::Okay, 'fess up people… who guessed the whole 'I'm-picking-you-up-for-school-to-return-your-glasses' thing? I thought it was kinda obvious, really… since Mori did wonder where her glasses were, and that Kaito was the first one to help her up when she fell… or maybe that's just me.

::So… I still don't own Law of Ueki…

".Allies."

I was shocked. Why did all the misfortune in the world have to happen to me? Why!? I guess Kaito read my thoughts from the look on my face. He leaned in closer, and whispered something in my ear.

"Don't worry… I'll take care of this."

I really wanted to believe him, but it's going to be very hard. We separated, and I looked at the door where everyone was standing. I couldn't read the look on Ueki's face… it looked, shocked, confused… and… hurt? All at the same time. Why though? It's not like he's jealous or anything, why would he be?

Then Ueki was completely blocked from view, and a rush of my classmates entered the room.

"Who do you think you are?!" I heared the voice of one of my classmates say, of course, this particular classmate, and many of the girls behind her were all members of Kaito's unofficial fan club.

"First Kosuke-kun… and now Kaito-sama!?" the girl behind her said. "You have some nerve!"

"Why don't you mind your own business?!" another one said.

I couldn't bare this. I just looked down, trying VERY, VERY HARD to ignore them.

"Oh please, will you people ever just SHUT UP?!" I heard a different voice say.

I was surprised, someone was actually standing up for me. And no, this someone wasn't Ueki, and it wasn't Kaito either. I looked up and saw her face. It was one of my other classmates, yes, also very smart, and unique. Her spiky, flaming red hair was unmistakable. She was also one of our newer classmates. She was Ayame Sasaki.

"Don't meddle Sasaki." The first girl said. "This isn't any of your business either."

"Nor is it yours." she said back, and death-glared the girl. Wow. If looks could kill, the poor girl would already be dead. I can't deny that Ayame's deep purple eyes could be really scary. Her glare was enough to shut the fan girl up.

"Can't you just leave us alone?!" Kaito said, annoyed.

"B-but Kaito-kun…" she said, stuttering. "She's…she's… Mori is…"

"She's a better person than any of you put together." He said.

"K-kaito…kun…" they all said, close to tears.

I can't take this anymore. Why are they standing up for me like this? It's not like I'm not thankful, but I want to handle this myself. They don't need to make enemies because of me. I wish I could just stand up and walk away… but my sprained ankle is inevitably preventing that from happening. Stupid, stupid ankle. I should do something, at least. I mustered up my courage, and stood up.

"Will you guys just quit it?!" I said, trying to look as confident as possible. "You people don't even know anything about me, and have no right to say those things! JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!"

They looked like they were going to retort, but thankfully, Ayame and Kaito's glares, with mine (which, sadly had much less of an effect) were enough to shut them up.

"You heard her!" Ayame said, fury in her voice. She was clearly someone I would never want to anger.

"Go away." Kaito said coldly.

They didn't need telling twice. Finally, they got to their own seats, and everyone stuck outside the door were able to enter the classroom, including, of course, Ueki.

"Are you okay Mori?" He said with a worried look on his face. "Did they hurt you?"

"Yeah, Sasaki-san and Kaito-san helped me." I said with a smile. "Sorry I didn't tell you that I came with Kaito-san to school this morning."

"Nah, it's fine, as long as you're okay." He said. I wonder how Ueki can be so nice. It's amazing.

"Thanks, Sasaki-san. Kaito-san." I said to the two. It would've been much worse without them.

"Don't mention it. They were really getting on my nerves, annoying, pathetic, little psychopaths." She said, smirking.

"I know what you mean." Kaito said with a smirk of his own. "It was the least I could do, Ai-san. I'm sorry for the trouble."

"It's okay." I said.

"Yeah, thanks." Ueki said to both of them, smiling.

And here I was thinking that Ueki would get angry and start avoiding me. Man, am I crazy or what?

"Hey, I'm here… that means class is starting… take your seats." Our English teacher said as he entered the room.

"Well, see yah." Ayame said with a smile at us. "It's Ayame by the way." And she took her seat at the back of the class.

"Ja ne, Ai-san." Kaito said, as he took his own, at the front of the classroom.

"Sorry I wasn't there Mori." Ueki said, and he took his seat as well.

But he was there… he was always there, and that's the best thing about him.

Well, I can't really say that the day went by smoothly, but it was a LOT smoother than I originally thought it would be. With Ayame, Kaito and Ueki along, I didn't really run into much trouble. There was one time in the bathroom when I thought another fan girl would corner me, but Ayame arrived just in time and with one look, the girl went away. She was really scary when she's like that. But she's really a spunky, nice person. Lunch was different to the usual table with just me and Ueki, and there was more talking involved. For people who were generally detached, Ayame and Kaito are pretty interesting people. Ueki, was still Ueki… just the way I like him, he really went out of his way to help me on my crutch, and he almost considered carrying me again… but thankfully I convinced him that I was fine.

After school…

"Ugh… on the day I forget my umbrella." I said, looking up at the dark grey clouds and tiny raindrops falling overhead.

"Don't worry. I've got one." Ueki said, taking one from his bag, and taking my bag as well. "So… let's go?"

"Yeah." I said, I remembered not to argue about him carrying my things, it was an argument I was sure to lose.

After a few minutes, we heard a familiar voice…

"Kosuke-san! Ai-san!" It was Ayame, she was already kind of wet, and clutched her jacket close. "Can I come with you guys? I forgot my umbrella!"

"Sure Ayame-san!" I said. "But I don't think we'll all fit in here."

"I've got another umbrella." Ueki said, pulling another one from his bag and handing it to her.

"Uh, thanks, Kosuke-san." She said.

"You're welcome." He replied.

When we started walking again, I noticed something…

"Oi, Ueki." I said with a pretend annoyed voice, softly so Ayame wouldn't hear. "If you had two umbrellas… why didn't you give me the other one?"

"Errr… uhmm…" He said scratching his head, I noticed his cheeks went slightly redder, looking around me as if he could find a reason there. Then he found it. "…it would be hard for you to carry an umbrella with your crutch." He said with a satisfied smile.

"Oh…" I said.

Then, a familiar Mercedes pulled up beside us. The door opened, revealing a smiling Kaito Fujiwara.

"You guys want a ride?" he said.

"Thanks, Fujiwara-kun!" Ayame said, entering the car in a snap. "Come on you guys… no need to be shy… unless, of course… you guys wanted to walk home TOGETHER, and you know… " she said jokingly.

"Eh?" I said, trying to sound like I had no idea what she was talking about.

"Oh just get in." she said, tugging Ueki and me into the car.

"You know Ayame-san… we shouldn't bother Kaito-san like that." I said disapprovingly.

"He offered a ride. I accepted. There's nothing wrong with that." She said with a matter-of-factly tone. "What's the point of offering your help if you wouldn't want other people to accept it?"

"I tell her that all the time… but she never listens." Ueki said, sighing.

Kaito just smiled. Ayame had a devious look on her face. Did I miss something?

A few minutes later, we reached my house… which was after all, the nearest one to school.

"Thanks again, Kaito-san." I said, as Ueki helped me out on my crutch. "…for everything."

"You're welcome." He said, smiling.

Before I completely left the car, Ayame clutched my hand and whispered something in my ear.

"Sorry for messing up the whole umbrella thing for you two…" she said softly. "…I think he really wanted to share his umbrella with you… I mean, who brings two umbrellas?… sorry, but I really had to get out of the rain."

"Well then… ja ne!" she said brightly.

"See you tomorrow Mori!" Ueki said, closing the door as I left.

"Hai." I said, but still… what Ayame said was something to think about.

::Was I being extremely predictable again? Oh well… I need feedback on Ayame, what do you think of her? Since the anime didn't really introduce their schoolmates to us, I have to create them… I hope that's okay with you people… if it isn't, eh, that's not my problem anymore. Hehe, the death-glare thing isn't that hard to imagine. One of my best friends happens to have the amazing ability to make people stop dead with one glare. It's really useful.

::Oh… maybe some seasonal stuff coming up. Christmas comes so early in the Philippines. Oh, and does anyone else miss Mori in Law of Ueki Plus? I know I do.

::So, you know the drill, thanks for reading, please review!