This is going to be very crackish from this point on… I mean, honestly, in the next few chapters, Fuery is going to devour a spiked melon and fall in love with Xiao Mei.

XD It'll have some deep parts too, don't worry. Good luck.

Research for cosplay. Funfunfunfunfun!

"Go away, Ling," she muttered as the timid footsteps entered the room.

"Lanfan, I'm sorry… I didn't mean-" Lanfan interrupted the stuttering Yao by standing up and turning to face him.

"Yes, I'm sure you're very sorry, Ling. I'm sure you're absolutely crushed. But you know what? I don't really care! This isn't about us-not anymore," she spat, fuming. "so stop being so dramatic!"

"I know that! I'm an ass, Lanfan, and you have full right to know that that's probably all I'll ever be, but I care about him too! I care about you!"

She grimaced, inches away from slapping him. "I'm sure you do, Ling."

"Lanfan!" he protested weakly, grabbing her wrist. "I really do! How can you have known me since kindergarten and not know that I care about you and Fuu more than anything else in the entire world?"

"Right next to your precious company, I'm sure!"

"No! You two come before the goddamned company!"

"And that's why you mentioned it, isn't it? It's really reassuring when you're crying your eyes out to hear your best friend go 'Be optimistic! I have to so I can get a company! Isn't there anything more important to you that you could have said instead?"

Ling faltered and felt a hot blush race up his cheeks. Yes, there was something. It was standing right in front of him, screaming. "Well, this is awkward…" he muttered after a moment of silence. Lanfan finally noticed her best friend frozen in place, blushing bright red.

"Well, what is it now?" she snapped, folding her arms across her chest and hugging herself defensively, as if that could be any help at all.

"I…figured…" he attempted to swallow, but his mouth was so dry Ling nearly retched. "Youprobablywouldn''sinthehospitalandstuff," he finished in a single breath, rushing his words to fit them in the single gasp his suffocating lungs managed to draw in.

At this, Lanfan's cheeks became tinged with a delicate pink. "Wh-What did you just say?" she sputtered.

Ling grit his teeth together, unsure of what to repeat. He had definitely said too much. "I-I… Well… Ah…" he stammered.

"You…you WHAT?"

"F-forget I said anything, Lanfan. You don't want to see me, that's obvious, so I'll just leave. Tell Fuu I say hi when he wakes up, will you?"

"Love…me?"

It was amazing, really, the affect of teenage hormones on most girls. Usually Lanfan was the most level headed person Ling knew, but as she was faced with this sudden and unexpected confession, even her stomach was flipping over so much she felt like falling over and throwing up. Mood swings-they were a blessing and a curse.

"Yea…For a while, I mean look at you! You're smart, funny, creative, kind, kickass, pretty…A guy'd have to be blind not to fall for you!"

"You think I'm all that?" she asked, whispering.

"Well, YES. You're perfect!"

There was a quiet, gruff groan as a new voice joined the conversation. "It's about time. I was beginning to think I'd have to die before you two finally said so. He's been head over heels for you since seventh grade, granddaughter." The flustered teenagers choked on air as they finally realized that Fuu had been awake for a good portion of their conversation.

"Grandfather!" Lanfan exclaimed, collapsing back into the chair she had been perched in before Ling arrived.

"Well, it's nothing short of true. Now, I suppose, I can die. I know my granddaughter is in safe hands. Ling, watch her. Lanfan, watch him. It will be your way of life."

Lanfan squeezed her eyes shut, unsuccessfully attempting to hold back the tears. "Please, grandfather, don't die!" she begged. "I can't, please, grandfather…You're too young, please…"

"No, no, I'm just old enough. Smile, Lanfan, and make me die happy-I'm not afraid."

Lanfan tried-she really did-but all she could manage was a shuddering sob as her grandfather closed his eyes for the final time.

~*Break*~

"Did you hear? That girl whose grandfather died from Mr. Bradley's damned sword wounds is in the hospital. I got from a friend of hers that she went and looked for him. Sword wounds… Who the hell uses swords anymore, anyway?" Rebecca was actually dead serious as she looked Riza in the eyes and related the story.

Riza sighed. "Poor girl. Her name's Lanfan, I think. I hope they catch Bradley soon, he's a bastard…"

"Likewise. Besides, he's way too interested in melons. Did you ever notice that?"

"It was really awkward…"

"So anyway…" Rebecca droned, leaning over her desk and whispering in her friend's ear. "Has Roy done anything for Valentine's day yet?" Riza whirled around in her seat, her formerly calm eyes now ablaze with fury.

"Becca, what the hell? We're not together, and we won't be!"

"Sure, sure, I'm positive you aren't dreaming about him every night. I bet he is, though. That was one whopper of a kiss you guys shared on Christmas, though. I couldn't speak for an hour."

"Becca!" Riza squeaked, seconds away from strangling her cheeky best friend.

"Riza, I think that's enough from you! I'm trying to teach math here. You may already understand it, but there are people in this room who don't, so please quiet down! You can always converse with Rebecca in the office, if you really want to…" Riza turned back into the front of her class somewhat sheepishly.

"We're going to talk at break about this, missy. Don't think he's getting out of at least some roses or something!" Rebecca promised. Riza resisted the urge to smash her head against the desk. Her friends.

~*Break*~

"Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it-"

"WILL YOU SHUT UP?" Roy roared at Maes.

"Not until you do it! Besides, you need a date for prom! My Gracia already said yes to me, so you're on your own if you want to go alone!"

"It's only February!"

"And if you don't ask her now, it's going to be the night before that you finally muster up the courage. I bet someone's even already asked her, she's pretty enough…"

"Damnit Maes, SHUT UP! You're NOT HELPING."

"Touchy, touchy. Want to see pictures of Gracia?"

"NO."

The pair were currently situated in front of Riza's house, and Roy was clutching two tickets to a ballet. He hadn't been to any dances since sixth grade after the incident. Dancing held a very, very bad memory attached to it. Especially ballroom.

That was what he and Riza had almost performed-a ballroom number. Then he had walked out on her, abandoning her on the night of the performance and effectively ending their friendship. He had received a serious black eye the next day, coupled with a nose that he could have sworn had broken. (It hadn't, but it had hurt like hell.)

So he was scared. Very, very scared.

So I warn you about crack, and now it's all serious… Raurgh. Yes Word, Raurgh is a word.

I DID IT! HIGH FIVES! 8D XD

…Reviews? Remember, 100th reviewer gets a cameooooooo! Or a line… Or a NAME. OvO