"Later, Saruyama! Be sure to get back to me on the project dates!"

Rito watched his friend stick his thumb up as he jogged away, nearly tripping on a crack in the sidewalk. 'What a goof.'

Shifting his book-bag from one shoulder to the other, he turned and made way for the lockers. As he walked past an open classroom door, he faintly caught the sound of shuffling clothes.

With less than half of a thought, he ducked and rolled, feeling the wind as the blade buzzed over his head. Turning on the balls of his feet, he parried three strikes and widened the distance between her and himself.

She smiled amiably at him, "Very nice."

Rito returned the gesture and responded as he lowered his blade, "Thanks, Rin-sempai."

Her smile threatened to widen obviously at the use of her first name, as it always did when he used it. She mentally shook it off and nodded at him. He nodded in returned, smiled again, and turned to keep walking.

Just before he continued past their classroom, however, his eye landed on Saki through one of the open windows. She held up a small photo of a familiar Devilukean and sighed, her face creasing and expression dropping. It was such a self-contradictory sight, that Rito knew something was up. She usually perked up when her mind was on said Devilukean. As he continued his journey home, he thought of what he could do. He left just too soon to watch her tear it to pieces.

"So do you think you can?"

"Ok, Rito-dono, I shall. But I won't be able to come for another week. Is that okay?"

In relief, Rito responded, "Ah, yes, that's fine! Saturday next week then?"

"Sure, Rito-dono, I'll be there."

"Perfect! Thank you!" He off-handedly hit a button to hang up. The phone whirred futuristicly, and Rito blinked as an unexpected image of him transmitted to Zastin.

"Uhh-"

"Bye!" Rito rotated the completely counterintuitive knob to cut the signal, shaking his head. Smiling in satisfaction, he wondered if everything would go smoothly between them. He couldn't wait to tell her.

"Tenjouin-sempai!"

Rito grinned as she turned to regard him. What luck to catch her alone as she was walking towards where her limo usually picked her up. This was his chance! He had pondered how to tell her for the past day and a half, and now he could.

"Yuuki? What is it?"

Gulping in anxiousness, he said, "Guess what's happening on Saturday."

Saki slightly rolled her eyes, not entirely in the mood for Rito's shenanigans. "Um, I don't know, you're graduating to a new weapon with Rin or something?"

Noting that idea, Rito vigorously shook his head no, and broke the news, "I did some convincing, and Zastin's coming to earth for a visit! And he said he'd see you!" Rito smiled broadly.

Her eyes widened, and for a split second, Rito could practically see her mind trying to process the information. Several seconds passed by, and he began to feel the mood changing…

"…You did what?"

"Uh. I, uh, convinced Zastin to-"

"And who asked you?"

Bewildered, Rito responded, "Well, I just thought you mi-"

Stepping forcefully closer to him, she shoved a rigid finger in his face, "Who. Asked. YOU? Did I? I don't recall."

Stepping back nervously, Rito kept silent. He watched as she whirled away from him, shoulders tense and fists clenched.

"And what was your plan, Yuuki? Hmm? Did you think all I wanted was to see him?"

Stuttering, Rito said, "I-I just felt you might enjoy it, that's al-"

"That's ALL?" She once again turned to face him, her face visibly contorted with an ardent fury, "That's exactly right. That's all. That is exactly what would happen. I could see him for one damn day, and one more damn time, I'd have to watch him leave for who knows how long. Yes, that's all, isn't it? Answer my question, you frustrating meddler. Did you or did you not think this is all I wanted?"

Rito, utterly stunned, couldn't find words to give her.

"Did you?" she screeched in distress.

"I didn't-"

"Oh, yes, you did. Well, let me tell you something, Yuuki Rito. It is not all I wanted," she spat viciously. "I want to be with him. Not to just see him every once in a while. I want to know him and be with him."

Though she was still in his face, her voice began to shake precariously, "And I want to believe it can happen, but I know it can't. He's a world away, and sometimes even further, and I can never reach him. He's from a different world, different culture, different status. And how dare you, how dare you do this to me. How dare you tease me with this."

Her face began to twist in pain, and tears gathered at the corners of her eyes, her voice now warbled with deep-seated traces of grief, "Just when I was so close, you come here, and without any warrant, bring him close enough for me to touch but not hold. What am I supposed to do now, Yuuki?" She sunk to her knees, sobbing into her hands. Her shoulders violently shook with the force of her heartache, and for once, Rito couldn't even imagine what he might say to soothe it. He couldn't remember the last time anyone exploded like that to him.

Without any warning, while Rito was still paralyzed, Rin silently hoisted Saki to her feet and led her to the limousine, casting Rito a morose glance.

The following day, a gloomy haze was over Saki, and Rito, after finally being able to get his bearings, now felt he needed to convince her. There was no doubt she loved him. And if everything stayed the way it was, Zastin wasn't going anywhere. He just needed to show her.

"Tenjouin-sempai! Please, wait, I need to talk to you!" he called out frantically. She walked past without a word. No eye-contact, no nod, nor any other indication that she had heard.

The next day, he tried again, with equal failure. And the following. And so forth. Thursday, he spoke with Rin.

"Rin-sempai! Please, I need to talk with Saki. Is there any way you could convince her to listen to me?" he begged.

Rin sighed, knowing how stubborn her superior, friend, and confidante could be. "Rito-kun… you really shouldn't have meddled. She's distraught, and she knows you know it. There's a minute chance that she would believe that you didn't know and you meant well, but the more you push, the surer she becomes that you're doing this on purpose."

"I swear, I'm not!"

Raising a hand to placate him, she responded, "I know, I know, but she doesn't."

"But… well, do you think you could talk to her? Please, maybe five minutes of her time would be great if I could have it."

Rin looked off with a melancholy gaze. "Well…"

Catching her eye, Rito's hopes fell as Rin shook her head. It was Friday.

He waited and waited, the whole day, mumbling to himself what he'd say, before giving it one last shot after school.

"Sempai! Please, hear me out!" he exclaimed. She continued on past him.

"Wait! I need to tell you this! He's coming tomorrow, and he wants to see you!"

Her shoulders rising, she paused her stride.

"He wants to see you. He does. Why would he? I think he cares about you, sempai. He hasn't gone anywhere since he first came to earth, and I know he sees this place as his second home. Please, can you give it just one more chance? It can work, I know it can."

Unexpectedly, she began to cry, feeling the resolve she had put up previously just crumble away. She really did want to see him again. And maybe… but…

Rito cautiously went up behind and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, softly rocking back and forth. She did not move, other than her weeping, and through the sobbing, asked, "Do you really think he'd stay? And see me as an equal?"

Rito paused for a moment to ponder his answer. "Tenjouin-sempai, I haven't told many people this, and there are complications that I'd rather not go into, but I do love Lala."

She sniffed slightly, wondering why he was bringing her up. Slowly, though, as he started speaking again, she realized why.

"But she's a princess. The most incredibly gifted, brilliant, and gorgeously beautiful princess of the most powerful kingdom in the galaxy. She's been to dozens of planets and sometimes needs to leave to handle business elsewhere. It can't be ideally convenient for her here on earth sometimes. I'm just an average guy with above-average people around me, am clearly not worthy of her, and somehow, I know and trust with all my heart that everything will go well between us."

Saki's eyes widened, and the flow of tears slowed, never having realized how completely different they were, how even further apart in society they were than she and her beloved Zastin. And if they could make it work…

Several silent minutes passed before he released her from his grip. "Yuuki?"

"Hmm?"

"If you and Lala get married, do you think there'd be a certainty that Zastin would stay here?"

After blushing slightly, chuckling, and rubbing his head sheepishly, he realized how solid of a point she had. He would.

"He would."

She looked up at him, and he saw an inkling of hope once again.

Woo. Non-stereotypical Saki and Rito interactions are tricky for me, and I'm not quite sure I'm satisfied with myself. Man, I'm getting rusty at this. xD Although, this chapter is also a slight experiment.

As an author's note, I am indeed aware that in the canon, Zastin is often at Rito's dad's manga studio, so you can either assume this was just before that, use your imagination as to why he needed to be away in space, or just suspend your disbelief for the purposes of the story.

Sorry to everyone who reads, critiques, and supports this fanfic for taking so long to update! I've been incessantly busy with my coursework, and I couldn't find time I could convince myself to take off, or at least enough to work on a chapter. If you see mistakes that itch your brain, please feel free to PM me, and I'll fix it. Or just PM if you want to chat for any reason whatsoever! Can't promise I'll be frequent, but I'll do what I can. And sorry this one couldn't be longer. Thank you so much for your reviews and just the fact that you stay tuned for whatever mediocrity that I decide to put out into the world! :)

"So… Yuuki. You and Lala should get married," she dead-panned, squeezing Zastin's hand affectionately.