So what if they hadn't invited me? It wasn't like I liked any of them anyway. Frustrated, I let my breath out slowly, letting it hiss out in a whisper. Suzuno stared at me with cool calculating eyes, searching my face slowly then moving on to lock gazes with me.

"What's wrong Ann? He asked after a moment of scrutinizing me with those beautiful, large, clear teal eyes of his. Damn! I need to get hold of myself! I nervously fingered a stray lock of my hair, twisting it around and around my finger as I considered his question. The man sitting next to me was none other than Suzuno Fusuke, one of the most popular seniors at Raimon.

If you're wondering how I got to be sitting here in a lonely secluded spot in Suzuno's own private garden in the middle of the night, then keep wondering!

It's none of your business!

Snapping back to attention, I smiled at my boyfriend sweetly, trying my best to appear content and happy. "I'm fine Suzuno!" I chirped in my brightest voice, widening my eyes like those dumb girls do in the movies. Suzuno smiled back at me and shook his head, the moonlight illuminating his pale skin.

"If you don't want to tell me, its fine; I don't mind but don't lie about it Ann," he spoke quietly as he usually did.

Epic Fail! Why did I call him Suzuno? He knows something's up then! I could have slapped myself at that moment but I kept myself composed for Suzuno's sake.

I have been told that in his day, he had been an insufferable egoistic brat but I have yet to see that side of him. I mean seriously, how can I if he insists on behaving like such a prick around me? He's so- so well-behaved! The perfect gentleman! Gah! I'd rather have him mess up a few times but I guess that's why I love him; for his stability, his IQ level, his creativity as well as his sensitivity and that he's totally hot doesn't hurt at all.

So if he's so perfect, why am I feeling so down today? It can't have been because of those bloody bitches earlier- I seriously don't give a shit about them.

So why is my stomach twisting itself into metaphorical knots?

"I'm sorry, its just that I was sort of thinking about Zonex. She still hasn't come back you know." Score! He'll never catch that lie! I cheered silently but immediately felt a wave of regret wash over me as his eyes darkened with a flood of concentration and his nose wrinkled ever so daintily as he considered my answer. What the hell was I doing, celebrating that I had gotten away with lying to him? What is wrong with me today?

How can I lie to him when he sacrifices so much for me?

"Well," he finally responded, having pulled a few blades of grass out of the spacious lawn and twisted them nimbly, giving them a distinct shape. I mentally kicked myself and whirled around to face him, all ears- the perfect attentive girl friend. "It might have something to do with the fight you two had." Great, thanks for reminding me. Absolutely wonderful- pinning the blame on me. Come to think of it, he's not that perfect.

I almost scowled but he seemed to guess what I was thinking because he immediately raised his hands in mock surrender.

"Hey, I don't mean its your fault. I'm just stating facts. She must be sulking somewhere or whoring herself in some dark strip club or bar," he offered his excuse with a slight grin.

But whatever reaction he had been expecting, I bet he didn't expect shock and revulsion. How dare he say something about her? I may be fighting with her but she was not a whore of any sort. I glared at him with fury, he had no right to call her that. Is that what everyone said about her behind her back?

"Excuse me, but what makes you think she's a slut?" I had no intention of letting him off the hook any time soon, if ever. I could see surprise flitting across his face before it slid underneath his mask of calm once again, subdued. I don't believe it-I managed to surprise him! Chalk one up for me!

"Well, the way you talk about her and everyone talks about her, it isn't much of a lie. And given her history with the rest of the students here, that theory became fact." Suzuno's eyes were shrewd now, watching her quietly- waiting for her to make her next move. I can't believe I'm fighting with him! What have we come to?

"I guess you're right about her history but that doesn't entitle her to be a whore!" I shot back, anger rising in the pits of my soul.

"No, it just makes her a two-timing retard," he replied quietly and I was astonished to note that he was serious. He nodded at me and I suddenly felt annoyed with him, myself, Haruna, Kidou and everyone else in the world- especially a certain missing purple haired girl.

"Let's just forget it," I replied, shaking my head but I could see from his expression that he wasn't forgetting this anytime soon. Well good, because neither am I! How could be so narrow minded and believe all the rumors? I don't know why I mind so much anyway. All the gossip about Zonex is true, okay, almost all. At least, I hope only a little bit is true. I mean, the part about her getting an abortion just cannot be true, right?

Maybe I'm worried about what he thinks of me? I couldn't help but sigh as we got up to leave, dusting our clothes. Just before we came to the gate, he handed me the blades of grass he had been twisting and knotting for the past fifteen minutes. A small green heart lay on the palm of my hand as we made our way back home together.

I hope nothing else goes wrong this week.

Ann stood up and dusted her skirt gently, smiling when that albino beside her flicked her hair away from her face. Revolting displays of public affection.

He was all wrong for her anyway! He couldn't even tell when she was upset.

I'll make sure no one hurts her again. Not her- she believed me when no one else did. That made her special and anyone who dared to mess with her would answer to me. She'll be happy soon, I promised myself. No matter who needs to be sacrificed for it. After all, the sacrifices for the greater good are always heavy but the outcome is always more important.

It's been proved time and time again.

No one would hurt my sister no matter what. I'd kill them before they ever made her cry again. The moon shone in the cloudless night and I turned around and walked away.

Phase one of the plan was already complete. Now I just had to get his attention.

Ambushed- I was trapped with no other place to go. I turned around, my mouth dry, ready for the imminent torture. I just hope it wasn't painful. Who am I kidding, its always painful, I squared my shoulders and whipped around to face adversity in the face.

"Hey Kidou, you wanna go and party the night away this weekend?" Genda cried out, smiling at him as if already expecting a yes. I sighed and shrugged at Sakuma who was ginning himself silly in the corner. Trapped- I had no excuse to give for not wanting to go. "I mean, it'll be awesome! We've been hanging around that Ann girl too often, she's a downer man! We already agreed to give up that dumb project!" The brunet continued, smiling at me with sparkling eyes.

Wait- why'd I notice his eyes anyway? Agh! Not again, I'm not gay… I'm just having a brief relapse from sanity, that's all. Nothing unusual at all.

"For the last time Genda, I'm not interested!" Okay, that sounded so wrong on so many levels! Shut up! I wanted to scream at myself but of course, that would be a one-way ticket to the psychiatrist whom I still haven't visited as of yet. Must meet her sometime soon before I actually lose myself to the madness.

"Why not?" he whined, scowling at me heavily. Is it just me or does he look better scowling? I mean, his tattoos become more prominent- wait, no! I must not compliment guys, I must not compliment guys, I must not compliment guys, I must…

"Hey, what's that?" Sakuma interrupted, pointing at a piece of white paper sticking out from underneath my door. I quickly unlocked the room and went in cautiously, ready for anything from stalkers to crazy mutant Ninja Penguins with mohawks. Mohawks… hmm… Haven't seen Fudou around much lately, wonder what he's up to. I wonder if it's gay to want to know where a friend is….. With my luck, it probably is.

"Guys, this is so creepy!" Genda whispered from somewhere behind me. I whipped around to see friends crouched in attack positions- Sakuma clutching a book, ah, History of the Mughals, that would pack a punch and Genda… Genda was brandishing his cell phone. What was he going to do, text the person to death? I sent up a mental prayer for Genda to get his brain back from the cleaners soon.

I scanned my room quickly- nothing seemed to be moved or missing. I was just about to release a sigh of relief when Sakuma suddenly yelled and pointed to the bed. On it lay a single white rose, mutilated with red paint and its petals slashed. It was a wonder I recognized it as a flower at all.

"Kidou, I think you should see this," Genda spoke quietly. I instantly felt something die inside me- Genda was never serious. What was so bad that he wasn't pretending to choke on his tonsils as usual? He was holding the letter in his hand and he suddenly started laughing, pointing at the paper.

Seriously, I could kill him. He almost gave me a heart attack!

"Looks like Kidou here has a secret ADMIRER!" He hooted, passing the page over to Sakuma for closer inspection. Sakuma scanned the page quickly and within a few minutes, he too was grinning widely and waving the paper in Kidou's face. "This girl is hardcore dude!" Genda chortled in the corner as he started leaving the room. "I guess I'll leave you now. I seriously needed that. I'll see you later at the party man!" Shit, he hadn't forgotten! I was hoping he had in all the excitement but Genda could be amazingly determined at some times.

"Bye Kidou, I have to go. I sort of have a date with Annie." Sakuma waved goodbye, still grinning and chuckling slightly. I smiled, Sakuma had summoned the urge to go and approach Annie a few days earlier and they were getting along rather well now that Yukira was away on some 'Cheerleading thing' as Fidio Aldena had described it as, literally using his fingers to air quote it, rolling his eyes. I seriously like that guy…. As a friend, I mean he's sort of cool.

Gah! Just forget it, this disease is permanent! I'm not getting rid of it so I better start accepting it now.

I walked over and closed the door after Sakuma with a barely audible 'click' and made my way back to my desk where Sakuma had left the note. I picked it up and read the poem it contained.

It takes two to make one,

The Hunter and the Hunted,

The chase isn't fun if there's no one to run

After me with a gun,

When the clock strikes twelve,

On the night when two merge to make one,

It shall be done,

The deed which shall avenge my angel,

Hurry up- before I ring the bell

My dear sweet lover boy,

Don't try to fight it;

You know you can't escape me and my flight

Shall be imminent,

After the princess has sung

Her last song-

Punishing her for all of her wrongs.

Be there,

Or be ready to lose them to fear.

-X

I stared at the note, shivers running down my spine. What was so romantic about this note? It was more like a threat note. Was this girl seriously going to hurt any girl I asked out?

Who said it was a girl? I was suddenly struck with unease. There had to be something more to this note than a stupid prank or stalker. Should I be worried or something? Call the authorities? Now stay calm Kidou, don't lose your head over this. Its probably just a joke. Try to think rationally about this. There has to be something you've missed. A quiet voice of reasoning rung inside me and I followed its instructions, checking underneath my bed and desk, feeling into the pillows and I was just about to abandon my search when I went to stare out the window.

A single necklace glinted underneath the moonlight, shining brightly. My hand shook as I reached out to take the silver trinket. Once I had it in my hands, I could see that it had a picture inside. After several minutes of struggling, I managed to pry it open and another note lay folded inside.

A distinct feeling of dread rung inside me. I ripped the paper out from the encasement and tried to unfold it quickly without actually tearing the paper into two- easier said than done.

Once it was open and lay out in front of me, I stared at the paper in shock.

'Tag, you're it'

What did this freak mean by 'it'? What was he? And what kind of a game were they trying to get me involved into? Maybe it's a murderer or a thief who wants to play hide and seek with me….. Okay, this was definitely a bad day. I massaged my temple slowly as a throbbing pain hit me suddenly.

I wasn't up to this today. Both notes were unsigned but then again, what kind of an idiot would sign the damn things? I'd just have to sleep on it.

Who knows, maybe I'm just over reacting! Maybe this is Fudou's idea of a sick joke, I mean, they do say 'think of the devil and he appears' and I was thinking of him…Oh well, I'll solve it out tomorrow.

But before going to bed, I made sure my door and window were locked. You could never be too careful.

I typed this out for a friend!