Let the Rain Fall
pass the broccollini

Author's Note: I just wanted to thank all the reviewers (MountainRain). Your commentary/criticism is extremely appreciated! I'm hoping that with more chapters come more reviews. So...here's the next chapter.

MountainRain – Thank you so much for your review! I've read your fanfic, but ever since I saw that episode (just forgot the name) where Arima keeps asking himself "is she happy with me?", I've had the feeling that with just the right amount of pressure, he would turn out to be a homicidal killer. Or maybe I've just been reading too much Steven King. Anyway, yes. Didn't mean to steal your vibe, but it is such a wonderful vibe. Anyway, enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter Two:

The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and Yukino Miyazawa had just finished some early studying for her French test in the school's library with two of her closest friends, Tsubasa and Maho. The bell was expected to ring soon, so their pace was a little quicker than usual. Tsubasa was chomping on a caramel she had found on the ground in the library. As Maho recited the first twenty elements on the Periodic Table, Yukino's thoughts drifted off to her sweet, charming, intelligent, beautiful, respectful, kind, talented, athletic, gentlemanly, polite, considerate...

"...Yukino? You ok?"

"Wha---oh...yeah, fine."

"Arima again, huh?"

"Yeah."

A small sigh escaped her lips. Sometimes she felt guilty daydreaming about Arima around Maho. The guilt was only temporary, of course, but it was still sort of depressing that no one in the entire school took notice of her. She was referred to as "Yukino's friend" and "that girl who hangs out with that girl who's dating Arima". Personally, Yukino didn't mind the attention (being the self-proclaimed Queen of Vanity that she was), but it would be nice if Maho could meet a guy who could make her smile. She was the only one in their little circle of friends that had a steady boyfriend. Tsubasa was single (although that was more of a personal choice than a lack of boy-attracting abilities), Maho was single, even Sakura and Hitomi only had an on-again-off-again relationship as unpredictable as Mr. Koibashina's pop quizzes. Tsukino was beginning to wonder if something wasn't going on between Sakura and Asapin, though it was too early to tell. It was rumored that plans for a "Sakura-Asaba Merryland" were in the making.

"Oi! Miyazawa!"

Speak of the devil.

"Hey Asaba, how's it going?"

Asaba Hideaki. If he wasn't such a womanizer and she wasn't completely in love with Arima, he was good looking enough for her to date. For anyone to date, really. It was too bad Sakura was just as bad as he was when it came to women. They made a cute couple.

"Not bad. Just picked up a copy of The Underground."

Yukino smiled. The Underground was a completely student-run publication completely separate from the school's newspaper. Being the assistant head of the Student Government Committee, she had voted on the decision whether or not to ban the small newspaper. She (and Arima, for that matter) had voted against banning it; free speech was important. After their votes, many others (including faculty) were swayed as well. It was a nice feeling, being able to see others gain enjoyment from reading something you had the power to destroy. It gave her a sense of power. And power was always good.

"Is it any good?"

"Most of it's just gossip. They've got some pretty good pics of that new girl, though. The one with the great abs."

A small, toothy grin crossed Asaba's face. It wasn't his fault he was a womanizer. He was God's gift to women. It was his job. Speaking of women, he withdrew a rather large lollipop with red and green swirls and presented it to one of his favorite little sheep. Kneeling down, he offered her the candy.

"Hungry, Tsubasa?"

Thoughts about her caramel immediately forgotten, she pounced upon the colorful piece of candy and begin chewing on it noisily. After a small pat on her head, Asaba stood up.

"Hey Asaba...Yukinon, we need to get to class. Homeroom starts in, like, three minutes."

"...yeah, alright. Bye!"

"Bye, Miyazawa!"

As the homeroom bell rang, flocks of gathered students congregating in the halls migrated towards their designated homerooms and Asaba was quickly lost in the crowd. Tsukino and her two friends headed towards their classes as well, none of them noticing the dark-haired figure watching them from the halls.

Don't really know where I'm going with this yet. Consider it a work in progress, but at least it's longer than the first. Read and review, please.