A Constitute Reality Chapter 10, an assassination classroom/暗殺教室 fanfic

Notes: Karma's POV at one point, which is why Kaede reverts back to Kayano there :P

Also uses of swear words 'Bitch' and 'Slut' and 'bastard' just a warning :P

Hmm...started this a day or two late cause my computer got stolen by an ass in my class. Seriously. My friend stole it back, so it was all fine lolol.

Also, I just had a really stupid talk from my school. It was all on outward appearances and how to behave as a lady. It got everyone in school so riled up, every time someone challenged the speaker, there were cheers and applause. I'm so upset because the speaker clearly wanted us to be 'proper ladies', by teaching us 'manners' last used in the 1700's. I'm super steamed. Ack.

On the bright side, I got more material for Nagisa's backstory from that ^^

Side note -

I'M AT THE TENTH CHAPTER, 100+ FOLLOWERS AND 100+ FAVOURITES and 100 REVIEWS :O OMG OMG I LOVE YOU GUYS THANK YOU FOR NOT RAGE QUITTING ON ME

*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧*:・ﾟ✧

Chapter 10:

Humid Time!

The first Manga-only event

"Hey, Nagisa."

Nagisa looks up from where she's struggling to open her umbrella, blinking when she sees Karma standing over her, a red umbrella over his shoulder.

"Hello," She smiles at him before returning to violently shaking her umbrella. "What might you be doing here?"

"What do you think," Karma snorts, then laughs. "It's the morning, just about time to go to school and I'm waiting at the foot of your apartment block. What could I be doing?"

"I don't know?" Nagisa shakes her umbrella again, trying her best to open it.

"Here," Karma shoves his umbrella into her hands, expertly snapping open Nagisa's old blue umbrella. Taking back his umbrella, Karma starts into the rain. "I'm obviously waiting for you, duh."

"Oh," Nagisa's eyes widen, then she smiles. "Thank you." She stands still a while longer, watching Karma. He stands out, a bright red person in a sea of darker ones. With the rain falling around him, his retreating back...it looks...

Ephemeral.

"Nagisa, you coming?" Karma turns to face her and Nagisa shakes her head, clearing it of the strange thoughts. Karma is here to stay.

"Coming," Rushing forward, she walks the closest she can to him with her umbrella, their hands brushing with every step.

"You did your hair differently today," Karma speaks up after a while, his hand moving up to her hair, toying with it.

"A ponytail!" Nagisa grins. She had been waiting for him to point it out, her blue hair tied into a high ponytail with the hair tie Karma had given her wrapped around it. "I think I look like Yada-san!"

"No, you look nicer than her," Karma laughs, carding his fingers through her ponytail as he drops a kiss on her head. "What's the occasion, then?"

"It's June," Nagisa beams, moving away from Karma and spinning around and around, swinging her umbrella. She looks as free as a child, grinning like that while acting so...childlike? So carefree? Karma isn't sure how to describe it. Cute, maybe. "I moved to Japan in this month, remember? So many years ago."

"Oh, yeah, I remember," Karma watches Nagisa with a soft smile. It's always wonderful when Nagisa acts as free as this, not caring all the looks, some strange, some gentle, she's gaining from strangers, like the weight that comes from the years of abuse from her mother falls off her shoulders, and she can smile brightly and wonderfully, soaring towards the sky. It's beautiful. "Any other reason?"

"No," Nagisa twirls on one foot, like a ballerina, before she stumbles. Karma is there immediately, grabbing her elbow. Sometimes Nagisa worries him.

"No?" Karma tilts his head, watching the raindrops fall onto Nagisa, slowly but surely soaking her. Her umbrella is held out at a ninety degree angle, sheltering nothing.

"Papa wrote..." Nagisa tentatively begins to spin the umbrella handle, water fanning out everywhere.

"Oh?" Karma doesn't despise Nagisa's father like he does that woman, but he isn't very fond of him either. What sort of man leaves his daughter with that kind of woman?!

"He wants to see me again," Nagisa spins it faster and faster. "I thought...well, he wants to see mother also. I think maybe..."

"They might talk things through?" Karma sets his hand on Nagisa's, stopping her from twirling the umbrella into outer space or something. "Nagi, your parents-"

"I know, it's just," Nagisa swings her umbrella around. "A girl can hope, right?"

"Yeah," Karma grins. "Still, your hair?

"Well, Papa was bound to have changed, to be different from what I remember, so I thought I should try something new," Nagisa toys with her ponytail, suddenly shy, her umbrella upside down, forgotten. "Should I have not...?"

"No, it's great," Karma covers her with his umbrella and grins, taking her hand and kissing her fingers. "Shall we continue to school?"

It's June.

And,

The rainy season has come.

Nagisa rests her head on Karma's shoulder.

And,

The day Korosensei destroys the earth is nine months away.

It's huge...

It's gotten so big...

Nagisa can practically read the minds of her classmates, mostly because she is thinking along the same line.

"Korosensei," Ritsu speaks up, the AI daring enough to say what is considered ill-mannered. "Please explain why your head is roughly thirty-three percent larger than it's original size."

"Oh, that," Korosensei places down his chalk, turning. His voice is thick, and a lot mushy. "It absorbed the humidity and swelled right up."

Korosensei weak point #13: He's prone to dampness

"Just like uncooked rice!" Okajima screeches.

"I avoided all the raindrops on the way to school, but I can't do a thing about the humidity," Korosensei begins wringing out his face into a bucket.

"And I don't think the way our classroom is built helps," Yada lifts the bucket, clearing the collected out of the window. "There."

"Man, at times like this, I envy the main campus people. They have air conditioning," Maehara groans. "I'm almost willing to try to get back in, evil idiots in there or no."

"They're too smart for you to call them idiots, Hiroto," Isogai laughs a little awkwardly.

"Smart or not, they're a bunch of butts," Maehara says airily.

"Butts?" Mimura bursts into laughter. "Who even says butts anymore? That's so primary school!"

"Well, what else do you want me to say?!" Maehara yells angrily.

"I don't know...asses maybe?"

"What even-"

"Korosensei, what happened to your hat?" Kurahashi yells over the two arguing boys, raising her hand high so that she's impossible to miss. "It's a bit loose." True enough, Korosensei's hat is tilted a little.

"How kind of you to ask, Kurahashi-san," Korosensei takes of his hat. "This is because it has finally grown," Sitting on the center of Korosensei's head is a single mushroom. "My hair, that is."

Err...

"That's a mushroom!" Mimura and Maehara yelp, argument forgotten.

"Does Korosensei have some kind of fertiliser in his head?!" Okajima exclaims.

"If it helps, I can begin looking up data for fans and constructing a large fan to blow wind around the classroom in a powerful fashion. With that, there will be some relief, even with the humidity," Ritsu suggests.

"Yes, please," Hara gasps, and Nagisa turns to look at the larger girl, who's sweating an awful lot, looking a little blank-faced.

"Nevertheless, I'm sure even these rainy seasons have their benefits," Korosensei places his hat back on his mushroom. "Now let's spend these dreary, wet days in high spirits."

Oh, right, Nagisa around class. Most of her classmates do look bummed out, frowning and sighing and staring at the rain. It's strange. Perhaps it's due to where I grew up that I'm so used to the wet weather, Nagisa thinks, fanning herself. The humidity is new, though.

"C'mon," Sugino weedles, trying to snatch Kayano's parfait from her. "Just let me have the strawberry on top-"

Grinning, Karma taps the screen of his phone for a clearer shot. It blurs for a second before clearing, capturing Kayano and Sugino perfectly.

"No! I always save the best for last!" Kayano bats Sugino away, scowling. "Just because Yukiko isn't here means that you can bully me."

"I'm hardly bullying you!" Sugino exclaims.

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Are you recording this?" Karma glances to his left, where Nagisa stands. Her hands are cupped around her mouth, her voice so soft that he nearly doesn't hear her.

"Yes," He whispers back. "Duh."

"OK," Nagisa takes her bag back from Karma, winking at him as she rummages through her bag. Idly, Karma finds himself wondering if she had bought him another gift. She always seemed to buy him little trinkets and other stuff, things that she somehow guess he will either like or find interesting. Nagisa has good taste. "Here," Nagisa places something in Karma's hand, placing her index finger over her lips.

Karma grins, then brings the thing in his hand up to his mouth, takes a deep breath and-

TWEET!

A loud, sharp, shrill sound echoes through the air.

"What was that?!" Sugino and Kayano shriek, hands clamped over their ears.

"Who'd have guessed, it worked," Karma laughs, bringing the whistle away from his mouth. "Where'd you get this from?"

"My neighbour gave it to me," Nagisa shrugs. "She said it was a safety whistle that she didn't need anymore, but it looked interesting so I accepted it and cleaned it."

"You gave him a safety whistle?!" Sugino gapes at Nagisa. "What about our ears?"

"Shanku, shortucaku," Karma grabs Nagisa's hands, bringing it up to his lips as he kisses her fingers. "Great gift, as always."

"Please don't abuse it, Karma," Nagisa looks at Karma, blinking her large eyes innocently. Urgh. When she uses that expression...how can he say no?

"Alright," Karma blows in the whistle just once more, for indulgence sake, before he stows it in his bag. Bummer. "Can I blow it in class?"

"Not during lessons," Nagisa gives him a stern glare.

"What about an assassination, though."

"If it calls for it, sure."

"What about a school trip?"

"If you get lost."

"What about while I'm in your hous-"

"No."

"Kayano? Nagisa?" Nagisa and Karma turns. Standing in front of them is Okano, Kurahashi, Kataoka and Hayami. Kurahashi beams, waving widely. "You guys wanna hit the ice cream parlor?"

"Sure," Kayano chirps. Karma smiles. He loves ice cream.

"The one down the street, or the hokkaido one near that other station?" Nagisa asks.

"Hokkaido," Kataoka responds. "We've been saving up for it."

"Indeed," Hayami agrees.

"Hokkaido ice cream sounds great," Karma slings his arm around Nagisa, steering her to where the parlour is. "Let's go, I want to put salt into other people's ice cream."

"Well, just for today, OK?" Nagisa smiles.

"Hey look at that," Okano speaks up, staring across the road. "Isn't that Maehara?"

Karma sighs, but turns to look anyway.

Nagisa fingers the silk flower in her hair, staring at Maehara. the tawny haired boy is sharing an umbrella with a unfamiliar, pretty girl. The girl's hair is long past her shoulders and dark, brushed neatly. She's quite slim too, with a nice body shape. There's a wide smile on her face as the couple laugh together, their shoulders brushing with every step.

"It's surprisingly cute," Kataoka comments.

"Oo~" Sugino laughs. "Nice to see he's as popular as ever."

"Isn't that Kaho?" Hayami asks.

Nagisa blinks in surprise. Who's Kaho? One glance at Kaede's face confirms that she doesn't know either (why would she, though? It's her first year in Kunugigaoka) but the other girls, Okano, Kurahashi and Kataoka make knowing little noises.

"Who?" Karma asks.

"Tsuchiya Kaho," Okano supplies. "She's in 3C. I-"

"I despise her," Hayami scowls.

"Kaho was our classmate in our first and second year," Kataoka explains, tapping her foot. "The fact that she and Maehara are-"

"Ooh, now I see," The group of students jump when they hear the new voice. Turning, the see Korosensei in a raincoat, scribbling something into a notebook. "Maehara-kun is sharing an umbrella with Kaho-san..."

Korosensei's weak point #12: He loves gossip

"Your love for gossip from your students is showing, Korosensei," Sugino sighs.

"Nurufufufufufufu," Korosensei beams. "Of course. I plan on releasing a non-fiction novel by the third trimester of all the students love stories. The first chapter will be Sugino-kun's feelings, which will never reach Kanzaki-san..."

"I definitely gotta kill you before you take that to the press..." Sugino flushes, a vein bulging in his forehead.

"Another chapter will be the possibility of romantic feelings between Hayami-san and Chiba-kun-"

"There is nothing going on between Chiba and I," Hayami cuts Korosensei off cooly, frowning.

"Kataoka-san and the trail of broken hearts behind her-"

"Those aren't on purpose!" Kataoka yells. "It's not my fault all those girls keep-"

"Kayano-san and Mimura-kun-"

"Mimura? The bowl cut guy?" Kaede's jaw drops. "How am I paired with Mimura-kun?!"

"He said you were cute, though," Sugino taps his chin.

"He said what?!"

"He did?"

Kaede and Karma chorus.

"And I will end it off with a love story - Nagisa-san and Karma-kun's!" Korosensei swoons, hugging his notebook, ignoring the rest. "I cannot wait to uncover your story."

Karma and Nagisa exchange looks.

"It's a very boring story, though," Nagisa shrugs, breaking eye contact with Karma. The story is long, and strange.

"It's great, you were so petty and stuff!" Karma laughs, and Nagisa's cheeks flame.

"I wasn't petty," She mumbles, twiddling her thumbs.

"Yes, yes, you were, Shortucaku," Karma all but cackles.

"Weren't you the petty one?" Nagisa pouts, folding her arms.

"Yes, but you followed pettiness with pettiness."

Nagisa looks away.

"Hah! I gotcha there!"

"Sorry..." Nagisa sighs.

Korosensei's hand flies over his notebook, the pen scrawling at a speed beyond human capacity. "How cute. Karma-kun, you will have to tell me this story one day."

"Sure! Any day would do, of course-"

"NO!"

"Anyway," Okano interrupts. "Maehara's chapter will be very long."

"Longer than Megu-chan's!" Kurahashi chirps. "He's very popular with girls."

Of course, Nagisa stares at the tawny haired boy. He's good-looking, and active in athletics. If this were another world...no, if he were in a normal school, with better grades, he would probably be even more popular.

"Ogling Maehara?" Karma whispers, elbowing her with a smirk.

"He's good-looking," Nagisa shrugs.

"Can't argue."

"You're better looking, though," Nagisa grasps Karma's hand, smiling.

"Longer than mine? What do you mean?!" Kataoka is demanding in the meantime.

"That is true. The girl he is with always changes," Hayami stares at Kaho and Maehara, ignoring Kataoka.

"Isogai said that Maehara is loyal," Kataoka shurgs.

"Loyal how?" Kurahashi looks confused, tapping her chin.

"Like doesn't cheat loyal or friend loyal or...?" Okano asks.

"He does go out with lots of girls, just not at the same time," Hayami ignores the other girls, the crease in her forehead deepening. "But Kaho?"

"Why not?" Karma taps his chin. "She's pretty enough."

"Very pretty," Nagisa agrees, shifting her umbrella.

"She needs some colour, though," Karma holds up his fingers in a box shape. "Her hair is dark, so's her eyes, her skin is pale and her clothes are grey. Boring."

"She's nice enough look-wise," Hayami explains. "But horrible on the inside. She always dates more than one person at a time. Ryu-Chiba mentioned that she asked him out before."

"Hate those types," Kaede begins flapping her arms. "So bad."

"Maybe she changed?" Sugino shrugs. "You never know."

Famous last words.

"Hmm...? If it isn't Kaho. What're you doing?" An unfamiliar voice cuts into the conversation Kaho and Maehara are having. Five students step behind the couple. One of them, the one in the front, is a boy only a little taller than Maehara,with dark hair that goes down to the nape of his neck, and dark, almond-shaped eyes. His nose is rather big, and he has large lips, pulled into a sneer.

"A new ambiguity," Hayami observes. "An ugly one too."

Okano and Kaede bursts into laughter, Sugino and Karma joining soon after. Nagisa only smiles, Kataoka and Kurahashi exchanging looks in front of her.

"A-Ah! Seo-kun!" Kaho more or less throws herself away from Maehara, pushing the tawny-haired boy away, racing towards the five students. "Weren't you staying back for student council work...?"

"Plot twist," Kaede smirks. "Show your true colours, big busted lady!"

"Yes, please do," Okano snarls.

Nagisa had forgotten their animosity to girls with...bigger chests.

"She's not big busted..." Kataoka sighs. "She's about my size."

"But she's fake," Kaede frowns, staring at Kaho. "Look at her worried face."

They stare at Kaho, who's laughing nervously as she titters to 'Seo' and the others.

"That guy is..." Seo turns his attention to Maehara, standing a little ways away from them, watching Kaho and the boys.

"Y-you've got it all wrong, Seo-kun..." Kaho fumbles with her words, the colour draining from her face.

"Busted," Karma grins.

"CHEATING IS BAD KIDS!" Korosensei yelps frantically, flapping his tentacles. "OK?"

"We know," The students all shush Korosensei, watching as it all seems to click in Maehara's brain.

"I didn't have an umbrella, and he just happened to come along and offer his..." Kaho's smile is painful to look at as she digs up excuses.

"You brought one with you from home, though," Seo replies.

"I-I forgot it at school...!" Kaho's lie is so obvious.

"Tsk tsk," Kataoka sighs. "She still hasn't learnt."

"Indeed," Hayami watches Kaho try to come up with better explanations. "And she's a bad liar."

"Honestly, I don't get her. Pick the better looking one," Kaede sighs, bringing her palm up to her forehead. "Don't go with the ugly one! Maehara is so good looking, but she's going with that thick lipped boy?"

"Ah, so that's how it is," Maehara cuts off Kaho's poor excuses with practiced ease, his umbrella resting on his shoulder as his hands go to his pockets, watching Kaho and Seo. "Lately, you've rarely answer the phone when I call, and you've suddenly switched from cycling to school to commuting by train." Maehara smiles slightly, bloodlust behind the upturned corners of his lips. "So, you figured you keep me around for when your new boyfriend's busy?"

("Are you filming?" Nagisa jabs Karma.

"Shush, this is golden.")

"Kaho, you little-" Seo starts, when Kaho throws up her hands.

"He's wrong!" Kaho insists, her voice weak. "It's not like that at all..."

"Am I?" Marhara challenges. "Is it not?"

"You-You've...you've got it all wrong..." Kaho's voice becomes smaller. "It's not like that at all..."

"Go get her, Maehara!" Kurahashi yells across the street.

Kaho freezes, her expression morphing to one of guilt. "It's not...like...that..."

Suddenly, an evil glint comes into her dark eyes, her expression becoming something disgusting, borderline evil.

"Oh, I sense something utterly disgusting coming out of that girl's pores," Karma comments lightly.

"Yeah..." Sugino watches the scene. "The question is what..."

"Hey, don't you know you're trash?" Kaho points at Maehara, her eyes cold. "You didn't put in any effort and now you're in class E, at the bottom of the pack."

"Sock her!" Okano mumbles.

Maehara's eyes are wide, disbelieving.

"On top of that, Class E students don't advance to Kunugigaoka high school," Kaho continues. "And sooner or later we'd have lost touch, anyway. I thought you might be in shock from falling into the E Class, so I didn't want to cause you anxiety and break it off to you directly, but I wished you'd notice without me needing to say so."

"Really." Kaede deadpans. "She picks the butt ugly one. With the weird voice."

"HAHAHAHAHA," Seo snort-laughs and Nagisa covers her ears. It's a horrid sound. "There's no way he'd figure it out with those Class E brains of his!"

"Look in a mirror," Kaede murmurs.

"You're very salty today, Kayanocchi," Okano pokes the other girl. "Do you maybe have a crush on-"

"An idol crush of course!" Kaede immediately defends. "If anyone hurts the second best looking guy in our class-"

"Who's first?" Sugino asks.

"Errr..." Nagisa points back to the confrontation. "Focus, guys."

"Of course not," Kaho giggles. "He's too stupid to even make the simplest assumptions."

A flash of hurt passes over Maehara's face before it's gone, smoothened over with a hard expression. "Isn't that like the pot calling the kettle black?"

Seo's foot lashes out and kicks Maehara into the ground.

Nagisa's hands fly to her mouth.

"You really don't get that we're not going to be in the same high school, do you?" Seo snarls. Maehara stares up at the other male in shock. "Even if we do anything to you, it won't cause any harm to us." He drives his heel into Maehara's arm

"Maehara!" Okano exclaims.

"Now give Kaho a proper apology for sharing the same umbrella as her!" Seo and his lackeys form a ring around Maehara, kicking and beating him.

"Why, those guys..." Sugino growls, tossing his umbrella to one side.

"Karma..." Nagisa whimpers.

"Yep," Karma pushes his umbrella into Nagisa's hands, hopping over the road dividers and dashing across the street, where Maehara is being beaten up. Without hesitation, the redhead punches Seo right in the center of his face, causing him to rear back. Sugino follows Karma's path soon after, grabbing one of Seo's lackeys and shoving him back into the wall, socking him in the gut. The other three students begin to retaliate now, fighting against the two boys while Kaho holds her school bag in front of her face, as though she can hide behind it. Okano suddenly tosses aside all her belongings, hopping over the road dividers. She makes a beeline for Kaho, grabbing her and pinning her roughly against the road dividers, a hard expression on her face as Kaho cries out in alarm. Nagisa watches as one of the three students aim a clumsy punch at Karma, only for him to nimbly dodge and grab that person by the neck, lifting him and tossing him to the side, near Maehara. Sugino manages to land a kick on a charging student, sending them flying back against the wall. By this time, however, Seo and the lackey number two have recovered, and the three boys eye Karma and Sugino warily.

"You alright, pretty boy?" Karma pokes Maehara with his foot, not even a scratch on him. Seo's lackeys have all recovered by now, eyeing each other like they're daring one to go against Akabane. As always, word of Karma seems to have reached everyone. "Need me to call your caretaker?"

"M'm f-fine..." Maehara struggles to his feet, then collapses. "Don't bother Yuma..." Maehara struggles to sit up.

"Too late, I'll ask him to bring a stretcher and some ice," Karma pulls out his phone, tapping the screen a few times. "'Class rep, your underling got beaten up lol. Come fetch him. Bring hospital stuff. Haha. We're on...XXX street, in front of the traffic light.' And send."

"Karma, don't-argh," Maehara winces, falling to the ground again again.

"Maehara," Sugino begins to crouch down when Seo lunges for the two boys.

Karma laughs, bringing back his fist (his phone gripped in it) and-

"Please stop."

The commanding voice stops the fight.

A sleek black car had stopped near the fight, and now, someone exits.

Nagisa's breath hitches in her throat.

Oh goodness...

"B-Board Chairman..." Seo stammers.

Okano releases Kaho, a foot dug against the other girl's to keep her from moving.

"Violence is not the answer," Asano smiles warmly, walking towards the group of students. "You are allowing your heart to become as wild as today's weather." He kneels down next to Maehara, his knee going into a puddle and holds out a folded square of cloth. "Please use this to dry yourself. I am glad I managed to step in before things took a turn for the worse, right Akabane?" Asano turns his smile to Karma.

"Well, I dunno, I've been itching for some blood," Karma sighs dramatically. "I barely got any..." Karma shows Asano his fist. From her angle, Nagisa can't see what is on it, but it's enough to make the Board Chairman's face harden. "Tastes good though," Karma licks his knuckles.

"Err..." Okano, Kataoka and Kurahashi turn to look at Nagisa, who smiles apologetically.

"He can get like that," She offers

Kaede stares, the looks back at Nagisa. "Why are you dating him?"

Nagisa shrugs.

"Because she likes him, obviously," Hayami answers instead, before pointing back at the confrontation.

"Akabane, you really enjoy testing my patience," Asano laughs. "That's what makes you very interesting. The stronger you seem, the bigger your weakness. Find the pin and you can break the balloon."

"Ah, but in recent years, it's proven that you can stick a pin in a balloon and have it remain strong," Karma wags his finger at Asano.

"What's even happening..." Kaede sighs.

"You were all very close to being removed from this school," Asano ignores Karma's words, looking right into Maehara's eyes. "Especially you, since you insinuated the fight, Maehara-kun."

Maehara's lips quiver, but he meets Asano's gaze head-on.

"Well then everyone, be careful on your way home!" Asano stands, smiling and waving at the students. "Goodbye!"

"W-We will!" Kaho stares after the board chairman, looking delighted. "Good bye!"

"The board chairman is a real understanding guy," One of Seo's lackeys comments. "Without caring that he'd get wet, he gave that thing his handkerchief..."

"Isn't that great...?" Karma smirks, tucking his hands into his pockets.

"Out of respect to the board chairman, I'll excuse your attempt to steal my girlfriend," Seo snarls down at Maehara, casting fearful looks at Karma and Sugino. "You'd better be careful."

"Getting jealous and picking a fight?" Kaho speaks up as Seo and his posse walk away, looking down to Maehara with a superior smile, condescending written all over her face. "I never would have thought you had such an ugly heart," She hisses. "Never look at me again."

Okano digs her heel harder into Kaho's foot, before shoving her roughly toward Karma.

"My my, you're a lot braver now that punches aren't flying," Karma moves towards Kaho, who lets out a squeak and chases after Seo. "You call, Maehara. Shall I beat her up? I have no problems with beating up a girl."

"Time to intervene," Kataoka sighs, picking up Sugino's umbrella and hopping over the road divider, leading Nagisa, Kaede, Kurahashi and Hayami across the road (And Korosensei, of course).

"Don't waste your time on a bitch," Maehara replies simply, before finally sitting up, coughing heavily. "What I want to know is...did you really call Yuma? He's at his job, you know."

"Job?" Okano asks, passing Maehara a towel.

"Yeah," Maehara stares blankly at the towel for a while, before passing it back. "Don't worry about me, monkey."

A vein bulges in Okano's forehead. "Don't call me a monkey!"

"Aww man," Maehara stares up at the sky. "I can't believe you guys saw all that. How embarrassing." He sighs. "That board chairman is really somethin' else. Diffusing the situation with a few choice words, but keeping the discrimination...he's got perfect control over his students. If I didn't hate him so much, I might actually admire him."

Karma pokes Nagisa, who looks over at him. Holding up his phone, Karma smirks. Nagisa reads the words on the screen.

From Isogai:

What?! Was it about Kaho?! I'm on the way!

- Isogai

"More importantly, that girl..." Sugino growls.

"What a bitch," Hayami finishes, crossing her arms.

"Shall we get back at her for you?" Okano asks.

"Wait, doesn't our class have a bitch as well?" Kurahashi asks, tilting her head.

"Yes! Another bitch with big boobs!" Kaede exclaims, flailing her arms.

"But Bitch-sensei..." Nagisa thinks it over. "We know the reason why she's such a bitch, and we know she's nice too."

"Yeah, that girl, she isn't as sophisticated a bitch," Karma shrugs. "She's more of a slut. A whore. A-"

"Uh, I think I'll stop you guys there," Kataoka holds up her hands. "We're in a street. If we bring a bad name to the school, they'll be more upset at our class than normal, so please mind your language."

"Actually, I don't care if she's a bitch, or a slut, or a whore," Maehara sighs, wiping his face with his sleeve.

"Do you not?" Nagisa stares at Maehara in surprise. "But you liked her!"

"I mean, better I find out now, right?" Maehara brushes off his pants, making no effort to stand. "And besides, who you like can change. I wasn't in love with her or anything, and we were still building up our connection while we were going out, so I'm not too heartbroken. A bitch deserves a bastard. A slut deserves a bastard. Etcetera. When your feelings for people your once liked fade, you might as well find someone new to devote yourself to. That's what I do."

"What sort of philosophy is that for a third year?" Okano mumbles, stowing her towel away.

"You wouldn't understand, monkey," Maehara waves his hand dismissively.

"Don't call me a monkey! I will kick you in the face, I swear!" Okano shrieks.

"But you saw her," Hayami says quietly. "She was in guilty excuse mode, then suddenly shifted to full-on attack mode. 'This guy is in class E. Everything I say, I'm in the right!' was clearly her thoughts. Makes me wonder if any of us would be the same way if we hadn't ended up in the E Class."

Nagisa falls silent. She thinks about that a lot. Honestly, if she weren't in class E, would she treat the E Students the same way?

The tension in the air builds.

"We'll retaliate," Korosensei says suddenly. Nagisa turns to look at their teacher and-

"KOROSENSEI! YOUR HEAD IS GIANT!" She yelps. Korosensei's head has swelled to four or five times it's original size.

"For the unreasonable humiliation you face, we will retaliate," Korosensei repeats. "The truly powerless would only accept the situation, but all of your are strong, capable assassins, who can mark a target without being noticed, and without leaving proof."

"What are you suggesting?" Maehara asks uneasily.

"An eye for an eye. We humiliate them," Korosensei's face went green as he let out his signature giggle. "Nurufufufufufu..."

"Oh! Got a text!" Karma cackles, cutting of Korosensei's laugh. "'I'm here, where are you?! - Isogai'"

"What?!" Maehara yelps.

"Hiroto!" The group of students (plus Korosensei) turn, seeing Isogai running down the pavement to them. The class rep is in a strange sort of waiters uniform, a white button down, a red tie and cravat around his neck, a black apron wrapped around his waist. He skids to a stop in front of the group, drenched in rain and sweat. Their argument goes something like this:

"What are you doing here? You know you can't skip-" Maehara begins.

"Was the fight about Kaho? I warned you that she was bad news and what-" Isogai talks loudly over the other boy.

"-work without reason. It's vital that you keep your job, so don't just leave to check on me-"

"-do you do? You stay with her - oh gosh, you're bleeding. Can you stand? Come on let's get you up and-"

"-as I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself-"

"-why can't you stand? Oh my goodness, do your legs hurt? Oh gosh, maybe-"

"-So you don't have to chase after me everywhere and-"

"-they're broken, I'm going to check-"

"-my legs are perfectly fine, I'm just a little tired - wait, get your hands away from me-"

"-so I'll have to check your leg, it might hurt, but-"

"DAMN IT IKEMEN, THAT HURTS!" Maehara yelps, cutting off the argument.

The two childhood friends exchange hard stares, before Maehara laughs first, snortling into his arm.

"Ikemen?" Isogai asks, smiling gently. "I'm sorry, Hiroto."

"Once again, I should've listened to you, Yuma," Maehara groans. "The world just loveeesss making me disregard your opinion."

"Maybe you should listen next time?"

"Nah." Isogai and Maehara begin laughing again.

"All's well that ends well, then," Hayami nods wisely as Okano and Kaede give each other confused looks. Kataoka looks amused, with Kurahashi giggling behind.

Nagisa exchanges looks with Karma, beaming.

"I'll take Hiroto home, sorry," Isogai helps his childhood friend up, wrapping an arm around the tawny boy's waist to hold him up. "Are you alright, Karma, Sugino?"

"Yeah," Sugino waves.

"Sorry for the trouble he caused," Isogai bows as much as he can while supporting Maehara. Turning, Isogai guides the other male. "Here, lean on me, step forward..."

The process of vengeance:

Time frame: Shortly after Maehara has been disgraced.

Planning:

"Any suggestions?" By default, Kataoka takes over, being the class rep. Rapping her knuckles against the board, the tall girl begins to write. "Here's the general theme, humiliation."

Karma walks to the board, grabs the chalk and begins writing. Most of the students can imagine the projection of devil horns and a tail behind him.

Assigning roles:

"Who'd like to have the distraction parts?" Kataoka asks, tapping the board again.

"I can try to negotiate our way into a place near Kaho and Seo," Yada raises her hand.

"Yada for negotiation. Thank you, Yada," Kataoka grins at Yada.

"No problem, Megu-chan!"

"I can help!" Kurahashi says cheerfully, waving her arm in her enthusiasm.

"Yada and Kurahashi, then," Kataoka writes it down.

"I volunteer Sugino and Yukiko for the distraction!" Kaede leaps to her feets, waving her arm madly, almost slapping Nagisa and Sugino, who sit by her side.

"HAH?!" Sugino exclaims.

"Revenge!" Kaede laughs maniacally.

"Kayano," Kataoka turns a glare onto the green-haired girl.

"Sorry!" Kaede sits down.

"So Sugino, Kanzaki, do you have any problems with that?" Kataoka asks.

"I don't mind if Sugino doesn't," Kanzaki smiles calmly.

"Oh, then, err, I don't mind..." Sugino blushes.

"Well, we obviously need these..." Kataoka trails off, her eyes roaming over the formula Karma had scribbled on the board. "Wait, isn't this lethal?"

"When taken in large doses, yeah," Karma shrugs.

"No! No killing!" Kataoka erases the formula. "Okuda, do you think you could come up with a very strong laxative?"

"A laxative only?!" Karma protests.

"Yes! I think I can!" Manami exclaims.

"OK, chemistry expert: Okuda..."

"Who's the best marksmen?" Okajima ask.

"Chiba and Isogai..." Kataoka trails off. "Right, Isogai is taking care of Maehara. Next best will be Hayami. Chiba and Hayami, then."

"Thanks," Hayami says dryly.

"Don't take offence, Rinka-chan!" Kurahashi flings her arms around the green eyed girl, knocking her out of her seat.

"Here," Chiba helps her up, dusting off her uniform. The two stare at each other a bit, before Hayami scowls.

"I was being careful. Not my fault someone decided to knock me over," Hayami grumbles, something that makes no sense in the current context.

"Why don't we drench them as well?" The class looks up to see Isogai standing in the doorway, his usually amiable face set in a hard expression. He walks up to Kataoka, taking the chalk from her. "Here, Hiroto said that this was Kaho's favourite place. She never brought him there, but she was always staring at it longingly. I checked it out. There's only one toilet in it. The next nearest bathroom is a convenience store a hundred meters away. Pretty short dash, but there are many trees lining the way." Isogai maps out the path. "Kaho is scared of bugs. Trees are a whole nest for them. If we cut off the branches as they pass, the water that had accumulated on the leaves will cover them, along with leaves, bark and maybe bugs. I checked out the area and volunteered our services to a nice lady living next to the path. She wants her branches cut. Not to mention, there's a private building opposite the shop. It's four stories high, perfect vantage ground. Nagisa, you have good eyes. Would you play lookout? Sugaya, you're really good at art, would you help with the disguises."

There's a stunned silence.

"Whoa, you're surprisingly evil!" Karma cackles. "Come, let's plan their humiliation!"

"Hinata-chan, Isogai and Maehara are the best at knifework," Kurahashi taps her chin, then grins. "Think Maehara will be better by then, Isogai?"

Isogai shrugs, smiling apologetically. "I can't guarantee anything..."

(He can)

Lastly:

Plan...start!

Short author's note: I was listening to 'Run devil Run' the nightcore version on loop while writing the scene below...HAHAHAHHAAHAHA

Nagisa sits in the fourth storey of the private housing, watching the scene through binoculars. "Sugino and Kanzaki sure look cool..." Nagisa murmurs, watching two 'old' citizens walk past Kaho and Seo, bowing politely. Kaho and Seo both ignore the two 'seniors', laughing rumbiously. Little do they know that the two old-looking citizens are actually Yukiko and Sugino, disguised. "You did a good job, Sugaya."

"Yeah, I just revamped a few party masks," Sugaya expertly tosses his paint brushes. "Where's your boyfriend, then?"

"I don't know...he said he wanted to add something to the laxative Okuda made," Nagisa watches Kaho and Seo sip their coffee, smirking at each other.

Downstairs, Yada and Kurahashi are distracting the landlord with a precision that amazes Nagisa. They say things with just the right amount of sincerity that it isn't mistaken for flirtation or false compliments, saying just what he wants to hear, calling him young and pouring him tea, listening attentively to everything he says.

"Everyone ready?" Nagisa asks, looking away from her binoculars. Behind her, the knife team and the snipers stand. Hayami and Chiba are dressed in their school uniforms, safety glasses on as they casually hold machine guns with practise expertise. The three people in charge of knifework, however, are dressed completely in ponchos and raincoats, carefully camouflaged by Sugaya so that they would blend in with the tree.

"Okuda-san?" Korosensei calls, stepping into the room. "Do you have the laxative-"

"No, stop, Karma-kun! We can't put that in!" Manami squeals loudly from outside the room.

"Shhh!" Everyone whispers.

Nagisa sighs. Knowing Karma, it was something strange.

"Will poison ivy not be feasible with the laxative?" Karma asks.

"Karma!" Nagisa calls.

"What?" Karma shouts.

"No."

"I'm dosing the laxative in it. They'll have an allergic reaction-"

"Kar-maaaa!" Nagisa calls again, warningly.

"Fine." Karma and Manami enter the room, Karma holding a plastic baggie with poison ivy inside and Okuda clutching a flask. "But I foresaw this. Chiba, Hayami, put this into your guns and shoot it in their direction first." He holds out two small BB pellets.

"Karma, what are you-" Karma places a hand over Nagisa mouth.

"Shhh, let it happen."

Chiba and Hayami exchange looks, seeming to have a silent conversation.

"Why not," Chiba accepts the pellets, loading it into her gun, Hayami mimicking his movements.

The two snipers take their stances, aiming and shooting.

There's no change in Seo and Kaho.

"Karma...?" Chiba's tone is worried.

"It takes time," Karma grins. "Now send them the thing."

Nagisa nods slowly, sending a text to Sugino.

Looking back through her binoculars, Nagisa watches Yukiko stand. Kaho and Seo begin to scratch themselves a little, adjusting their uniforms.

"Can anyone here read lips?" Maehara asks suddenly. "I want a play-by-play of what's happening down there."

"Sensei has very good hearing," Korosensei volunteers, clearing his throat. After a pause, he speaks again. "'Dear, do you think there is a bathroom here?' Kanzaki-san says. Sugino-kun's breathing has increased in pace. 'Oh, I did see a convenience store about a hundred meters back...' 'H-Hey, there's no need to overexert yourself,' Sugino-kun says, his voice is very shaky, nurufufufufufufu~ Oh, right, Sugino-kun is also saying. 'Just because we are seated outside does not mean that we aren't customers. Just use the bathroom there, honey.' Nurufufufufufufufufufu, sensei can sense a spike in his temperature and heart rate. How amusing. Kanzaki-san is very calm. As you can see, she's entering the bathroom. 'How awful,' Kaho-san is laughing. 'Senility is awful! I definitely never want to end up like them!' Seo-kun is making a strange noise...Knife Team, depart now!"

"Now?!" Okano and Maehara complain.

"Hiroto, Okano," Isogai reminds them. "We have important things to take care of."

"Ugh..." Maehara grudgingly follows after the dark haired ikemen...err, that is, class rep.

Chiba and Hayami get into position, aiming their guns.

Sugino knocks over a collection of bowls and cups.

"Oh dear, Sugino-kun is quite upset at Kaho-san and Seo-kun for insulting Kazaki-san, nurufufufufu. He seems pleased to be letting out his anger on something. Kaho-san and Seo-kun are both watching Sugino-kun now."

"Shoot!" Nagisa yells.

Instantly, Chiba and Hayami squeeze the trigger and Nagisa watches as the two bullets whiz through the air, landing into the cups of coffee.

"Direct hit!" Chiba exclaims, smiling widely.

"However, compared to hitting a target at Mach 20, this is an overly simple task," Hayami says instead, causing everyone else in the room to exchange awkward looks. How was that simple?

"Nice!" Nagisa offers anyway, because praise is always good.

"'Enough already!' Kaho-san is slamming her hands on the table. 'Quit it with the racket, you senile old fart!' Seo-kun is shouting. How rude. 'Ah, my apologies,' Sugino-kun says, his lips are twitching a lot. Can you see it, Nagisa-san?"

"Yes."

"'As soon as my wife returns from the restroom, we will leave,' Sugino-kun says, his voice is going very mushy. Thinking of Kanzaki-san as his wife seems to have cheered him up," Korosensei swoons, scribbling something down in his notebook. "Oh,

"That's sweet, I suppose," Hayami nods.

"Very~!" Manami says cheerfully.

"'Sheesh, they sure have some low grade customers today,' Seo-kun says, while drinking his coffee in a most uncivilised manner, might I add. 'Sorry, it's usually a pretty smart crowd in here,' Kaho says, slurping her coffee. How rude," Korosensei tsks, shaking his head. "Nurufufufu, now everything else is left to everyone on the ground."

Nagisa smiles. "They keep scratching."

"Yeah, I grounded poison ivy into pills," Karma explains.

"Oh, they're beginning to feel the effects of the laxative!" Manami exclaims.

There's a short brawl for the binoculars, before everyone realises that they can see Kaho and Seo just fine.

"Mimura is recording this, right?" Manami asks.

"Yeah, his brother's biking him around with a camera," Sugaya nods.

"Biking?" Korosensei suddenly looks panicked. "Isn't that dangerous?!"

"He's attached to the bike by a cart..." Sugaya explains, looking exasperated. "We can watch this whole thing later. Look, there's Mimura!" Nagisa turns her binoculars to the ground below, searching. Soon, she finds it. A teenager on a bike, with a slightly younger teenager sitting in a cramped cart, holding a camera. Mimura-kun...

"I hope Yukiko's helping me fold cranes!" Kaede suddenly says, surprising everyone. "I gave her some origami paper and asked her to help out. I need to fold a thousand for a volunteering project!"

"Err..." Nagisa looks away. Soon, she sees Seo and Kaho dashing out of the shop, racing down the path, umbrellas out as they grab their stomaches. Mimura and his brother give chase, keeping pace with the two junior high students.

As she watches, four or five large branches go crashing down on Seo and Kaho.

"LOL!" Okajima cackles loudly.

"Did you just say 'Lol'?" Manami gapes at Okajima.

"I should try that in one of my pranks," Karma says contemplatively, ignoring Manami.

"If you want," Nagisa watches Seo and Kaho with her binoculars. "It is pretty funny, though."

"Well, that was refreshing, wasn't it?" Korosensei beams, standing in a poncho under an umbrella. Around him, the Class E students all pat Maehara on the back, laughing and congradulating it. "Making a mad dash for the bathroom while looking dishevelled will be extremely humiliating for those two."

"Can you burn that into a CD?" Sugaya asks Mimura, pointing at his camera.

"Of course," Mimura grins. "Who do you think I am?"

"Erm..." Marhara clears his throat, attracting the attention of everyone. "I guess...thanks for doing this for me today, everyone."

"What's wrong, Maehara-kun? After this, do you still think of yourself as weak?" Korosensei asks.

"No," Maehara grins widely. "At first glance, none of us are much. Except the Ikemen." He cuts his eyes over to Isogai, who sighs.

"I'm not an Ikemen, Hiroto..."

"But you all have a second blade you can rely on. A blade I don't have..." Maehara sighs just as large as Isogai did.

"That's just how things are," Korosensei pats Maehara on the back, smiling widely. "Strength and weakness can't be determined by sight alone. I'm glad you have learnt that."

"Yeah..." Maehara stays still for a bit, his hair falling to cover his expression. There's a moment of peace before he looks at the class again and beams. "Well, I gotta go! I've got a dinner date with a girl from another school-"

"No, no you don't," Isogai narrows his eyes.

"Sorry, Yuma, you can start mothering me tomorrow! I swear!" Maehara waves, running away.

"Maehara Hiroto, you get back here!" Isogai shouts, giving chase.

"Whoa, that's the first time I've seen him semi-upset," Kaede observes.

Nagisa smiles.

It's twelve where I live.

I finally finished it...

But yeah, I wasn't kidding. My computer really got stolen for a while, so yeah. I'm most comfortable on this, so it felt weird borrowing my sister's, so yep...

Hope you understood that :P

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I've decided to start up a poll ^^ for ships in this fic, it's on my profile now. It's too see what pairings will be in this, because I don't want to just pick on my own.

Now, review replies~

Xenocanaan: Actually...dollhouse was written on a whim. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but when I read back on it, it was pretty bad -_- AND I MADE MYSELF SAD! WHAT IS UP WITH ME (sorry) Thank you though ^^ Hope you enjoyed this, and thank you for the praise!

Amaya Kuruta: Why are you happy I updated then :? I hope i helped cheer you up or something ^^ We all ship Karma and Nagsia, yep XD The bruises aren't, no :( They're from her mom :/ HAHAHAHA I'll ignore that, lolol :D Why can't you publish your own story? Ah, sorry the update took so long :O Yay, hug! Love you too, lol

SunsetsN'ShadowsN'Switchblades: (Did I get your username right?) Yeah...still have no idea why I wrote dollhouse...

123 Let's Go: Yessss! I hope you liked the beginning part of this chapter, then! ^^

Aipom4: Yeah...the last scene was pretty O.o

Shiranai Atsune: Yay! You're back ^^ Thank you for the reviews, XD Yeah, about time the boys found out! They're so blur! Aww man, everyone really doesn't like dollhouse :O Well, it was pretty sad.

Danget the Critic: Yay! A bunny XD I love bunnies, actually, I love all cute things. Yeah, last chapter I didn't have much inspiration at all :O So hence, the plain chapter...I hope this was better ^^ I wanted to have my fun with it, but I kinda...well I had to reel myself in ^^ Takebayashi's first words never cease to amuse me! Especially since Isogai and Kimura immediately said 'Those are your first words?' and 'you're sure, Takebayashi?!' So that really made me laugh. I hoped you liked this better!

OneWhoCharms: Yay! Ritsu ^^ Ritsu is my third or fourth favourite character, and she gets a lot of screentime, too! Yeah, I wanted to do a scene on Nagisa's mom in here...but...well, not good for my tear glands.

HappyGuy: Hope the beginning of this chapter made up for it ^^

Rose Again D: YES THEY ARE! I WAS SO SURPRISED! What did Karma and Nagisa bet...*smirks* Extras #1, check it out! Yeah, everyone overlocked Chiba :( Poor guy!

Marshmallow: I'm very sorry! *bows* Gomenasai! Sumimasen! Warui! I gave my best to finish this by the next applicable deadline...tuesday, namely. I'm sorry :( Thanks, haha! The civil war made me said, BUT THEN I SAW THE SCENE WHEN KARMA GAVE UP AND I THOUGHT THEY WERE HUGGING. I felt really happy. Then they weren't actually hugging, it was just a trick of the animators and I felt really sad :( I SAW THE SCENE AND GOT FALSE HOPES I AM GOING TO FIX THAT WHEN I REACH THAT CHAPTER! I swear.

Extra #1

The punishment for the bet

"I lost, so now I owe you a favour?" Karma's brow twitches slightly. Although he hated to admit it, Nagisa had won the bet. Gah.

"Lost what?" Nagisa tilts her head in confusion, her brows knitted.

"We bet on Ritsu, remember?" Karma asks.

"Oh," Nagisa's eyes brighten. "I remember now! I want you to come to my house tomorrow, then!"

"Hah?" Karma stares blankly at Nagisa.

"Through the front door, Mother will be in Kyoto for a business trip," Nagisa says cheerfully. "So come over! I'll have everything prepared."

It had been so long since Karma used Nagisa's front door, he preferred entering from the window in her room, that he actually had gotten lost. Not that he'd admit it. After knocking on two wrong doors, Karma had gone and counted all the windows from outside the building, finally tracking down Nagisa's apartment. He had been two floors off in the beginning.

Karma had barely knocked once before Nagisa flings open the door, beaming. "Karma, cook something for me!"

Karma pauses, his fist still stupidly in the air, poised for knocking. "What?"

"Could you cook something for me?" Nagisa pauses, then smiles widely. She's changed out of her school uniform, in a pretty pastel green frock that isn't overbearing (and also a gift from Karma. Man, he has good taste, it looks nice on her) her hair falling down her back in nice ringlets.

"Why?" He's still taking it all in, before it process itself in his brain.

Nagisa doesn't really dress up, unless it's for him, or unless that woman forces her into something disgusting. Since that woman is in Kyoto...it can't be her. Besides, Nagisa also mentioned...

"Is your father coming tonight?" Karma asks, arching a brow.

"Yes," Nagisa pulls him into the house, locking the door behind them. As he wonders further into the house, he finds himself wonder why, after all the years of sneaking in through Nagisa's bedroom window, he never bothered to explore everywhere else. The apartment is sleek, with white everywhere. It would be nice, but Karma sees the small signs in the living room and the corridors. Potted plants and furniture are arranged carefully over small stains and dents in the walls. A large square of cloth covers the couch, but Karma can see the dust settled on top of it. "I had hoped that mother would be home when he did, but alas..."

"You need help," Karma sums up.

"No, I'll clean the house!" Nagisa immediately says, shaking her head emphatically. "You just cook-" As if he's going to let her dirty her current attire. Grinning, Karma picks Nagisa up, carrying her bridal style. "Karma!" She yelps, clutching his shoulder.

"View from up here," Karma replies with, setting her down in the corridor to her room. "There you go-"

"You're not doing everything on your own," Nagisa pouts, folding her arms.

"But you're too pretty to be doing it on your own," Karma answers, mimicking her actions.

The two of them have a mini stare off, glaring at each other.

"You sit on the couch and just look pretty, OK?" Karma lifts Nagisa again, kicking the couch cover to one side as he sets Nagisa on it. "Let me handle everything today. As part of your favour."

"Thank you, Karma," Nagisa consents, much to his surprise. She sits on the couch, her back straight as she smiles.

He returns the smile, beginning his work.

First, he should sweep the floor.

As he finishes up the first task and moves on to mopping, Nagisa speaks up from the couch.

"Karma, can I tell you a secret?" Nagisa asks.

"Hmm?" Karma wipes his brow. Thank goodness he's in his casual clothes and not something nice, judging from how much he's sweating now. "Go ahead."

Nagisa stands and moves over to him, smiling brightly. She cups her hands around her mouth, gesturing for Karma to lean down.

"What's the secret?" Karma whispers, standing the mop against wall as he leans down.

"I love you."