Memo: Hi yaz! Well, I guess I got this chapter put up after all. Just to let you all know, I probably won't update until some time in July since I'm going on vacation! Yay! So count up the days until I get back. Lolz. Just kidding. But like I said, I won't be updating until July. And I'd like to thank everyone for reading and reviewing my story. But if you haven't reviewed yet, please do so I can see if I'm doing a good job or not. And I just want to know how you guys think of my story. So here's chapter three!

Chapter Three: Learning Lines

Three days had past since that 'Bucket' incident and after Tsubame accepted me to become her boyfriend. It still feels kind of weird having a girlfriend though. It's not like I have a thing with girls or anything, it's just that love isn't something that I can see myself doing. I'm still at the stage where I think kissing a girl is disgusting and making out isn't something I'll be doing soon enough. Then again, before Kaoru and Kenshin got married, I got annoyed on how blind they were that they couldn't see that they loved each other. Then I'd often wondered what it'll be like to have a girlfriend. Someone to hold, someone to kiss, someone to love. Heck. What am I kidding? I would never soften up for some girl just because I like her. And that's final.

Love to me is something that makes you obsessed with a girl, like how some people could get addicted to drugs and stuff. A girl that you have to do whatever she pleases to make her happy or else you'll both break up with each other and then your whole life will go down the drain. A thing that you fall for once and never do again. But is something that you'll never forget, and probably regret. Kenshin use to have a girlfriend before he met Kaoru, and he still thinks about her even though he already has a wife and kid. When Kenshin's girlfriend died, he said that it was very painful and almost made me afraid to even fall in love. Then again, when I see him with Kaoru, I can see that they're both happy with each other. Like they were meant for each other.

I looked over at Tsubame again from the wall near the detention room, which was straight across from where she was. She was still in the school grounds, practicing for the play, even if it's already 3:15 in the afternoon. School was done fifteen minutes ago, and I'm just waiting for Riku and Tidus to come out of detention. After all, what are friends for? Sora was already sleeping on the bench and I was leaning against the wall. I've noticed that I looked at Tsubame a lot lately and every time she looks at me, she blushes and say a small 'Hi'. Not that I don't like it or anything. I admit that she talks to me a little more at school now, but I still didn't get to know her as much as I wanted to. If I ever want her to kiss me, then I need some way for me to see the things that she likes and what she dislikes. After all, we still pretty much act the same, even if we are already a couple.

Then, a thought hit me. When I watched her practice her lines with some of the people from the Drama Club, I wondered if maybe we could practice together too. I mean, I don't want to end up doing Busu's house chores for a month and I really want to learn some new moves on the Hiten Mitsurugi. Plus, it'll let me learn more about Tsubame and possibly, she could kiss me since our play is coming up and all that. I know that she wants to do as good at the play as I do, so I'm positive that she wouldn't turn me down. At least, not that I think she will, unless she's busy or something.

Then, another thought hit me. If she does kiss me...Then this will be my first kiss! I suddenly gulped and tugged on my collar again. As much as I wanted to get this dare over with, I'm afraid what will happen after that. Kaoru once told me that a kiss can tell you if you really love a person or not. I just hope that Tsubame doesn't feel that way, or else it'll be harder for me to break up with her. But I'm also worried about my reaction. What will that make me feel? I already know that it might change me forever. And it probably will.

"Hey, what time is it?" Sora yawned as he sat up from the bench.

I looked at my wrist watch again. "Three twenty-one. Why?"

"Damn. They're still not out of that stupid detention yet?" Sora asked as I shook my head, "Figures. They probably have to stay in there for another ten minutes or so if they cause more trouble. So what have you been doing while I was sleeping. I mean, you've been pretty quiet lately."

"Mmm...Nothing. Just listening to you snore."

"Shut up! At least I don't snore as loud as you."

"Oh...I forgot to mention that you drool too."

Sora tackled me to the ground as we wrestled each other for a few minutes. That was until a teacher came and stopped us, giving us the usual lecture that fighting isn't allowed in school grounds and if she catches us doing that again, she'll put us in detention. Typical. All teachers tell you crap like that and they forget it all in the next day. Sora and I looked at each other as she continued ranting on about kids these days as she walked to the school parking lot. Then we both burst out laughing, joking around by saying how she probably says stuff like that all the way home and forgets about it as soon as she reaches the door to her house.

"So what have you really been doing huh?"

"I already told you. I didn't do anything."

"I bet you were looking at Tsubame huh?"

"What? Why would I do that?"

"Because," Sora sat down on the bench again, looking at the small group nearby. "She and the Drama Club people are the only ones around beside me. And she is you girlfriend now, so I figure that you'd be watching her. You know, just to make sure she's not to close to other guys," he smirked and winked.

"What makes you an expert all of a sudden? And besides, I don't think Tsubame's the type of girl."

"Hey, at least I date girls. Unlike you Prince Charming. All you ever do is train, watch TV, eat, basketball, school, and video games. It's about time that you got a girlfriend."

"But she's not really my girlfriend. Don't forget, I'll have to dump her after she kisses me."

Sora had a knowing look in his eye as he turned to me. A look that read I know you won't do that. But he didn't say anything like that. Instead, he asked, "Aren't you part of the drama thing too?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. Only because Busu and Kenshin bribed me."

"Then go practice with Tsubame. About the play I mean. And besides, the play suppose to have a kiss in it, right?"

I nodded. "Yeah...But..."

"Then it's settled!" He stood up. "Hey Tsubame..."

Tsubame turned her head to look at us as I sprinted towards Sora and took his arm.

"Hey! Chotto matte (Wait a minute)! I don't think-"

"Yahiko wants to come over to your house and practice lines with you. You know, for the play. I know you want to," Sora interuppted with a smirk and winked at her. She blushed slightly and looked at me. I sighed. I wasn't really planning on Sora asking for me, but I guess this works too.

"Yeah Tsubame. Is that all right with you?"

"Sure. No problem. You can come over after school since I don't have work tomorrow. I live close by the Akabecko, so you should be able to see my apartment. My room number is 132"

"Heh heh. Can't wait..." I rubbed the back of my head as she held her arm.

"All right! So Yahiko goes to Tsubame's tomorrow after school," Sora said with a huge smile on his face. "See you later Tsubame!" And with that, he dragged me back to the bench, just in time to see Riku and Tidus come out. "Man! What took you guys so long?" Sora asked as Riku and Tidus shrugged, giving knowing glances at each other. Obviously, they got in trouble again and had to stay more than they had to.

"It doesn't matter. But get this," Tidus said as we all huddled together to hear the secret. "Next week, they're gonna have a school dance and fiesta on Friday and this will be 'the party of the year' and the greatest thing that the school has done in the history of school. So I overheard the teachers saying that there'll be a lot of sweet rides and good music that 'kids like these days'. And they also said that you'll need a date to get in. So if we get the date, we get the ticket. It's this new school rule thing so the guys will be nicer to girls or something like that."

"And what do we do after?" I asked curiously.

"What else? Ditch them of course. As soon as we get in, we don't have to worry about anything else. The girls will understand that us guys need time for each other. And they'll probably be chatting away as usual like all girls do. It's no sweat," Riku answered.

"I like the idea. But the question is," Sora said. "Who are we going to take..."

"Well, we already know that Yahiko's taking Tsubame. Sora, you can take Misako. Tidus can take Keiko. And I'll take Yumi. That way, it'll be easier to ditch the girls since they're really close to each other. And as long as they look good, then we'll look good."

"Only one problem..." Tidus said as all our eyes snapped to him. "It's a formal dress. As in, kimonos and all that stuff. So I don't know about you guys, but I think we really need to buy some clothes like that."

"Yahiko's lucky because he lives in a dojo. It's part of being a sensei to wear those clothes if they're going to teach swordsmanship. It's traditional for the Kamiyas."

"Lucky..."

"Hey! Let's not forget that we still have a week. And I probably have to practice my lines with Tsubame that day if I want to learn that new move Kenshin's going to teach me. And not to mention that Kaoru promised she'll do all my chores if I do good on the play."

"But you have to come Yahiko. We don't want you to miss out. It'll be fun. And beside, I know Tsubame might go there if you will."

"And you know that...Why?"

"Because it's obvious that she's been crushing on you. She's a love sick puppy, willing to do anything for you. You got her in string man!"

"Mmm...Whatever. If she really loves me the way you say she does, then I guess I'll have to see that at the festival next week for myself."

"Hey. Glad you can make it Yahiko, come on in." she said as she stepped aside to let me in the apartment room. It was small, but enough for Tsubame's needs. It had a small kitchen with a kitchen table, a TV room with a window outside, and a bedroom with a bathroom. But she decorated it in her own way, with many stuffed animals on the windowsill and couch, posters in various places, a DVD and CD collection, stereos, computer, and all that stuff. So it wasn't like it was broken up or cheap or anything like that. It was actually kind of...Cool.

I took a seat next to a stuffed animal as she went to the kitchen to prepare some snacks. "So...Do you live here by yourself?" I asked.

"Kind of. Tae-san comes and visits me often. And so does Misako, Keiko, and Yumi. Other than that, I don't really have anyone else. And besides, Tae-san lives right next door to me, so it's not really a problem. I have everything I need right here. And the money I get from the Akabecko provides me with all these stuff I have. It just takes a while to earn it though."

"I see...So what ever happened to your parents?"

She came out from the kitchen, a sad expression on her face.

"I'm sorry. You don't have to answer if you don't want to..."

"No. It's okay. I don't live with my parents anymore." She took a seat next to me, placing a tray of cookies down by the small table in front of us. "They went out for a drive. They said that they were coming back home from a party. It was raining hard outside, but they insisted that they didn't want to leave me. Tae-san was already taking care of me and she insisted that I was fine. Tae was an was an old family friend and they didn't want me to be a burden to her. So they drove on. Then..."

She stopped. Her voice began growing softer and it was obvious that she was hiding her tears.

"I'm sorry...I shouldn't have asked you..." I murmured quietly, putting my hand on her shoulder. But she continued on.

"They had a car crash. Two drunk teenagers were driving, they weren't paying attention. My dad tried to catch their attentions, but they didn't listen. No one survived the crash," she looked up at the ceiling and sighed. "Ever since that night, Tae-san had been taking care of me here. I was probably around five when that happened."

"You were so young..."

"I know. But I learned to deal with it. After all, that's what you do."

"I never really got to know my parents. My mother died while giving birth to me and I was all my father had. But my father...He didn't want me. That selfish greedy man just threw me away when I was young. Things were hard on us and he left me in an orphanage when I was around seven. He said that I was annoying and told me that I'll have a good life here with all the other filthy orphans. It wasn't until I was around ten years old when Kenshin and Kaoru took me in. I never heard from my father since then."

I felt weird talking about my past with her. But then again, I felt really comfortable. After all these years, I finally have someone who will listen to me. I never told any of my friends, even if they knew I was adopted. But I never told them why. Talking to Tsubame felt great. I talk about my past and she listens. Probably because our pasts are similar since we both lost our parents. But inside, something told me that there was something more than that. I just didn't know what it was.

But before I could think of anything else, Tsubame suddenly hugged me. It seemed amazing how a shy girl could have this much courage to do something like this. But I thought that she probably got caught up in the moment. I was stunned as she broke away and looked at me. "I feel so sorry for you Yahiko...You've dealt with so much...Your father seemed like a horrible man to throw you away like that when you were just a little kid..."

"You tend to forget about it after a while. It's been so long ago, I guess it doesn't matter much anymore. Come on Tsubame. I want to do good on the play."

"Well...I guess we better get started huh?" she said, changing the subject. I nodded and flipped my script to the part where I first met Cinderella. "Okay. So you're a prince in disguise and you're trying to escape from all the boredom in the castle while I work outside my house. Then you get lost..." She looked at the paper then turned to me. "Want to start there?"

"Whatever..."

"Okay..." she sighed. "Excuse me sir. Are you lost?"

"Yes ma'am. Tell me where..." I stopped and looked at the script, making sure I was reading the script right. "You're beautiful...? I think whoever wrote this forgot to add a line here..."

"No," she giggled. "You suppose to be stunned by my beauty."

"Your beauty...Or Cinderella's beauty?"

She giggled again and that brought a small smile on my face. It's pretty rare to see Tsubame smile since she's always alone. Let alone laugh. But at that moment, it felt really good hearing her do that. Knowing that I, Myoujin Yahiko, finally accomplished making Tsubame laugh is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

"What are you staring at Yahiko?"

I slowly came back to reality at the sound of her voice. How stupid I must have looked like, smiling and staring at her. "You have a really cute smile..." I admitted softly and turned my head, trying to hide the blush that was coming up. I was surprised to hear her giggle.

"Hee hee. And you look cute when you blush."

My cheeks burned when she said that as she laughed at my expression. Blushing was something I rarely did, but I didn't really care. I knew that she wasn't going to tease me when I do that, unlike everyone else I know. In fact, she said that I look cute when I did that. Hearing that compliment made me smile as another thought hit me. If this is what having a girlfriend feels like, then I guess it's not that bad after all...