One week until prom. This had quickly become the mantra of Keiko Yukimura, not only was this her senior year of high-school, but the year had now dwindled down to a month.

' Less actually now that I think about it' Keiko placed a contemplative finger on her chin before sighing and correcting another one of the freshman's papers.

Being the bright girl she always had been, she completed her credits far before her senior year, but stuck around for him.... His freshman and sophomore year, it was a rare occasion he ever showed his face, since he was constantly ordered around in spirit world, but after nearly losing Keiko to another guy, he forced himself to show up as frequent as possible in his Junior year.

Keiko smiled to herself remembering that incident...

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"What do you mean he means nothing to you!!?"

"Exactly what I said!! He's nothing!!"

"It sure didn't look like 'nothing' to me!!"

"Honestly Yusuke, you have got to be the thickest headed jerk I've ever met!"

"Apparently not, since... what's his name again?"

"His name is Yasu, and he's only-"

"See!! He stole my name too!!"

"What do you mean?!"

"Can't you see it?! Y-A-S-U-, and Y-U-S-U-... uh..."

"You can't even spell your name right, so how can you accuse him- me, of-"

"I can do whatever I want! All I know is the second I walked in on you two during that class, he seemed to be more then comfortable with you!"

Keiko bit her lip and glared. Beneath Yusuke's angry eyes, she could see how hurt he was, and to tell the truth, it hurt her to see him hurt. She turned her back on Yusuke.

"Yusuke. If you can't just handle someone else being with me for- if you can't-"

"Keiko I just listen to me.."

"No Yusuke, you listen. I worry myself to no end when you- you just go off into some unknown world for months on end, and.. and-"

Yusuke took Keiko's trembling hand in his, and gazed squarely into her tear brimmed eyes. "Keiko, I'm always here... Just hear me out... I promise you, that I will try my hardest to be here for you", Yusuke's hard eyes had softened and were sincere with promise.

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Keiko smiled and stared off in a daze until..

A ruler slammed down onto her desk, "Ms. Yukimura!" Keiko snapped her eyes to face the stern face of Mr. Morimoto, but quickly lowered her eyes and apologized. "Yukimura, if you cannot concentrate, I will write a letter personally to the University you are to attend in the fall." These words hit Keiko hard, and she quickly bowed and muttered

"I need to leave, forgive me Morimoto-san". Keiko made her way out the door and slumped against the wall, sighing, and wiping invisible beads of sweat from her forehead. "Why did I get Morimoto as T.A.? I could have had anyone but him! He hates me!"

"Morimoto problems Keiko-kun?"

Keiko glanced up to see Mitarai Kiyoshi's laughing cerulean eyes help her from the floor. He used to attend a different school until meeting Yusuke on one of his missions; after meeting Kuwabara he had instantly went from "sea man" to simply Mitarai. Fate as it had placed Mitarai in almost all of Keiko's freshman and sophomore years, and she instantly became the best of friends with him.

Keiko nodded vigorously and accepted his extended hand. "I don't know why you bother to stay here Keiko-kun! You could have graduated last year with Shuichi!" Keiko raised her eyebrow at Mitarai, and instantly he shook his hands back in defense, "Not to say there's anything going on with you two!"

Keiko rolled her eyes and continued on her way to her locker, until Mitarai raced up near her, "Come now Keiko-kun, Yusuke will be back he always manages to get back safely! You can slap him to oblivion when he gets back!" Keiko couldn't help but grin at this remark, "Oh, arigatou Mitarai-kun! You always know how to make me smile!"

He grinned and was about to say something until a hoard of girls poured into the hallways crowding Mitarai. "uh... I'll see you after-school at the tree alright Keiko-kun?" Keiko waved at Mitarai's slowly departing figure, "Of course Mitarai-kun!" Keiko chuckled, ever since he arrived at the school, he became almost as popular with the girls as Kurama was, of course this was of great relief to Kurama considering how much easier it made life for him.

Keiko walked out the doors, sat under a tree and gazed up at the sky. She had a free period, which was really meant to study for her college entrance exams, but lately all she could think about was... the prom. She chuckled at her own stupidity, she could remember how she used to make fun of seniors who could only talk about prom, when the truth was, she had become engrossed with prom.

Everything was planned, Atsuko helped her pick out a dress, and so on, but the only thing that seemed to tug herself in the back of her mind was.. who she was going with.

Of course the obvious route was Yusuke, but when she last saw him.... He was hiding something, and she knew it had to do with Botan. Keiko never considered herself beautiful, and having to stand next to the glamorous Botan made her look like a mere peasant. She could always go as friends with Mitarai, or others who had asked her but her mind stayed focused, engrossed on Yusuke.

Keiko sighed and looked at her watch, her free period was nearly over and she would need to report to the office to help plan for some more prom final details. She reluctantly stood up and brushed off her skirt, which in her opinion had always been too short for liking, but in the process, she dropped her plans on the ground, only to be blown away..

"No! Wait!" Keiko cried, running desperately after the plans, most likely looking like a fool, but all she could care about was... the plans! She nearly had it in her hand, until they were picked up by someone else's strong hands

"Do you need help Keiko-chan?"

Keiko gasped and gazed into the eyes of....