Little Toradora story I've had on my mind for a while and finally got round to writing. Hope it's okay. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own Toradora.

"Thanks for seeing me. There's something I really have to get off my chest. I knew I could turn to you to listen."

Ryuuji took his seat at the table. He was sitting opposite the one in his house to whom he was going to let out what was on his mind. The tall boy gazed towards his company with a heavy look on his face. Always he was frightening people off with his intimidating appearance. If those who gave him a wide berth saw him that moment, they would realise that he was a troubled soul, no less venerable to inner conflict than anyone else.

The gentle young man let off a sigh, bracing himself to start venting about what he had been keeping bottled inside to the one listening to him.

"So..." he began hesitantly. "It's about Taiga..."

The moment Ryuuji said the name of the person on his mind, his heart fluttered. His dark eyes closed as he pictured the short, brunette girl he had been taking care of for a while.

"It's been some time now since Taiga's been a part of my life - and she's changed it completely..."

The boy's hands closed into fists as he thought back to how Taiga had been all on her own when they had met. She had been living by herself with no one to take care of her. Ryuuji had quickly put a stop to that, always making sure the young girl was well-fed and living in a clean household.

"I never thought someone like that would enter my life," he continued. "But now I can't think picture my life any way other than to look after Taiga."

A smile found it's way onto Ryuuji's face. He felt extremely protective towards the young girl who had no one else to keep her before he entered her life.

"I would go to the ends of the earth for Taiga - even if she doesn't always show she appreciates what I do..."

Ryuuji let off a chuckle. It was no secret that Taiga was often rewarding his efforts for her by kicking and punching him whenever he annoyed her. The small girl had always been a reckless sort - but the kind-hearted boy was able to see past her violent and angry exterior.

"I know just how venerable and broken Taiga really is... That's why I always want to be there for her..."

Ryuuji dropped his gaze, peering into his lap as his hands curled into fists. His eyes were filled with his determination to always protect Taiga - as well as the frustration at the inner conflict he was facing.

"The trouble is - Taiga doesn't want me to stay with her," he went on. "She wants be to go after Kushieda."

Ryuuji sighed as he closed his eyes. Now entering his mind was the cheerful, scatter-brained, red-haired girl, who had been part of his life far longer than Taiga. He thought back to what he had told the brunette about Miniori Kushieda - which was what had led to his battles against himself.

"I told Taiga I had feelings for Kushieda. She has been urging me ever since to go after her and get together with her. She has been unfailingly supportive about the idea of Minori and me becoming a couple..."

There was a pause as Ryuuji went back to thinking about Taiga. He thought about how encouraging the small girl was when trying to urge him to pursue his feelings for Minori. He smiled at how she was always trying to get him to chase his long-time dream to make it come true. It was moments like matters of the heart where Taiga showed how truly caring she was deep down.

"She really wants me to be with Kushieda - but the thing is ... that isn't what I want anymore."

Ryuuji opened his eyes as a bleak look crossed his face. His shoulders sagged as he looked at the one he was venting to, about to reveal his deep secret that he had told no one else.

"Don't get me wrong; Kushieda is a great friend. She will always be important to me ... but now, the one I want to be with - is Taiga!"

The boy squeezed his eyes shut as he reflected on what he had just announced. It was still something he was finding himself struggling to face. Yet every word of what he said was true. In the time he had spent taking care of the lonely, reckless girl, he had ended up falling for her.

"I can't help it," he sighed as he opened his eyes. "Taiga has become the most important person in my life. I want to always be there for her and protect her. I would see that she would never have to face another day alone. Never would I abandon her like her family did."

Ryuuji sent his heavy look to the one he was letting his troubles out to. It was clear from his gloomy expression that what he was revealing had been bothering him inside for a long time.

"But what can I do? Not only is the girl I love pushing me to go after someone else, she has a crush of her own which she's chasing... She really wants to be with Kitamura..."

The youth's heart sank. His unhappiness sagging deeper at how Taiga was also in love with someone - and it was not him. The person who had stolen her heart happened to be his friend, Yasaku Kitamura.

"He's the one she wants. She's made that crystal clear to me - right from the moment we first spoke to each other. It's what let me to taking care of her from then on. I even tried to help set her up with Kitamura - even though I have feelings for her myself..."

Ryuuji rested his elbow on the table. He propped his head up with one hand as he drummed his fingers on the other. The one he was expressing his sorrows to looked at him, taking in how deeply affected the blue-haired boy was by his feelings for Taiga.

"I don't know where I go from here..." he finished. "I know Taiga only has eyes for Kitamura and wouldn't look twice at me - but I can't help it. After all we've been through together, and even though she drives me around the twist a long, it's absolutely true; I love Taiga Aisaka."

Having finally let out all that had been let out of his mind, Ryuuji let off a sigh. He was nowhere close to a solution to his problem, but he felt much better for getting it out in the opening. He gazed towards the one he had been telling his troubles to, a genuie smile on his face.

"Thanks for listening..." he said gratefully. "I just knew you would heed all I had to say."

Inko squawked and ruffled her feathers as she remained sat inside her cage. She stared at her owner with the same dopey look upon her face.

All Ryuuji had been letting out to his pet about girl troubles was far too much for the parakeet's tiny bird brain to handle.

Thanks for reading. Hope this story was okay - and the twist gave you some laughs!

Cheerio! :)