It was lunch time, and Ruki was still shaken up by his dream. He didn't know what it meant, but it couldn't be anything good. Aoi had comforted him on the way to his next class, but now they were sitting with Die and Toshiya and Aoi seemed to not even care if Ruki was feeling any better. In fact, he seemed more preoccupied with the poor freshman walking down the hallway towards them. Ruki watched the three quietly, eyes widening as Aoi tripped the boy, making him fall to the ground. He stared at Aoi as the raven yelled at the frightened boy. He couldn't believe the way the other was acting. Was staying at the top really this important to him? The whole thing made Ruki sick.

Getting up, he walked away from the group without a word. They didn't deserve an explanation. Ruki was so upset by how Aoi was acting, but he knew there was nothing he could do to change Aoi. To try would only bring out even worse situations, and right now all Ruki wanted to do was sit with his friends, and pretend like his life was average and uncomplicated. Seeing his friends sitting at their usual table made Ruki smile, and he quickly walked over to them. The first to see Ruki was Kai, and he quickly got up and went over to his friend. Ruki smiled and hugged his friend, surprised when the other didn't return it. Pulling away, he looked at Kai, confused as he saw all his friends watching him coldly.

"Kai? What's going on?" Ruki trembled as he watched them, confused.

"Ruki, I think you'd better leave now," Kai said quietly, looking at him, no emotion on his face. Ruki looked almost heartbroken. Looking between Kai and the others, his expression was one of confusion and hurt.

"They guys aren't very happy about you going behind their backs and dating someone you know we hate, and to be honest Ruki, neither am I! Look, I don't want to be rude, but you should really just go. They don't want you here," Kai said, stepping away from him, before heading back to the table. Ruki's eyes were watering. What had just happened? Now his friends had all abandoned him, too? Ruki felt so helpless. He couldn't leave Aoi; he wasn't sure he wanted to. But the thought of losing his friends over this brought tears to his eyes as he ran from the cafeteria.

Tears streaming down his cheeks, Ruki ran past Aoi, Die and Toshiya, out the door and into the back field. Today had been yet another horrible day added to his already bad week. He sat on the grass, his head in his hands. There had to be some way to fix this. And what of the dream? What had that dream been trying to tell him? Could what Reita said in his dream have anything to do with what just happened? Ruki was startled out of his thoughts when he felt strong arms around him, hugging him. Looking up at Aoi, he didn't know what to do, so he just gave in and cried into the other's chest.

~!~

Aoi brought Ruki back in once he managed to calm the shorter boy. He may have known Die and Toshiya were all about power, but he also knew they would do anything he told them to do. So when he said, 'treat Ruki like you would treat me. He is now my equal', he knew they would do so.

When the bell rang, he walked Ruki to class, holding his hand as they leaned against the wall by the door. Ruki was still very upset, and Aoi wanted nothing more than to be able to make the boy smile again. Kissing him softly, he leaned into the wall, keeping Ruki between the wall and himself. Sighing as he pulled away, he stroked Ruki's cheek.

"Try and stay positive," he said, smiling and squeezing his hand reassuringly. "Meet me at the car after school, and we'll go shopping. Does that sound alright?" he said, watching Ruki to make sure he heard him. Ruki sighed and nodded. "Alright love, go to class and I'll see you after school." Aoi watched Ruki take his seat before going to his car. He had a free period before the last class and he figured he could buy the other something nice and hopefully get the other to smile. He just wanted the other to smile.

~!~

Ruki walked through the hallways after school, keeping his head low, careful not to cause anymore unnecessary drama. There had already been enough in drama in his last two classes as people he didn't even know started bugging him about dating Aoi, already angry that Ruki would become just as stuck up and arrogant as they believed Aoi to be. Ruki would never be like Aoi acts at school. He just wasn't that kind of person. But no matter how hard he tried to tell everyone that, they already hated him just as much as they feared Aoi.

Finding Aoi's car, he walked over to it, leaning against the front of it, waiting for his raven haired boy. Waiting patiently, Ruki sighed as he saw his friends all getting into Tora's car, and pouted, feeling left out. Looking back over his shoulder, he smiled as he saw Aoi and sat up going over to him, suddenly feeling all the more confident seeing the other. Wrapping his arms around the other, he kissed him confidently, forgetting all the nasty things that his classmates had been saying to him. Aoi was surprised, but held him close, smiling at him. He seemed to be feeling a bit better. Aoi just hoped that it stayed this way.