I'm terribly sorry for the long lack of update. Things moved very fast and I couldn't keep up. I went abroad for a while without having any internet access, but now that I'm back on line, let's see if I can finally update this.

"Miss Chidori, you're 20 minutes late!" Miss Kagurazaka glared at Kaname, tapping her ruler impatiently on her side. "Well? Don't just stand there, sit down!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Kaname dashed to her seat. She quickly began scribbling and tossed it to Kyouko. What's wrong with Miss Eri? She's like in uber-PMS! Kyuoko giggled and wrote down a reply. Don't worry about it. Word has it she got dumped by another man.

"Ah..." Kaname didn't need to know more. She scanned the room for anything interesting to catch her attention and focused on an empty desk. Sousuke's desk. She then heard footsteps near the door and, sure enough, there was Mr. Clueless, looking tattered and beat.

"Mr. Sagara, what in the world happened to you?" Miss Kagurazaka snapped.

"What happened was-"

"I don't want to hear any excuses. You're late and you're disrupting my class. You will join Miss Chidori in detention today. Because you were the only one who failed the last history test, you will make it up today. The booklet is at your desk and you will complete it while the rest of us will proceed to the next lesson."

Sousuke nodded and headed for his seat and paused for a moment to look at Kaname's direction. He gave her a small smile of thanks. Kaname nodded and then shot him a deadly look. She was still thinking about the incident early that morning and still did not get over it. Sousuke blushed as it replayed in his mind, but he shook it off and concentrated on his test.

"So... how did you do?" Kaname asked as she ate her lunch in front of him. Shinji and Kyouko were behind her, also curious of his grade.

"Ninety-two percent. Thank you for all your help, Miss Chidori"

"No sweat. But next time you should learn to study on your own. I can't help with every test."

"Yes, I understand. And I'm also sorry about what happed this morning."

"Don't mention it," Kaname replied. She shot Sousuke a venomous look. "I mean it."

"No, it was my fault. We shouldn't have slept together in the futon like that. Next time I'll sleep in your bed as you say."

"WHAT?" Shinji looked stupefied. "You two slept together?"

Sousuke didn't understand why Shinji was so surprised. "Yes. Right after we studied."

"Kaname, is this true?" Kyouko turned to Kaname. "What did he mean next time? Was he really that good?"

"What? No! We just- I was- he... AAHHHH!!!!" Kaname lost all self-control and walked towards Sousuke, the earth trembling with each step. Poor Sagara, he never saw it coming. He saw Kaname smile at him, her grin crooked and forced, then the next thing he knew he was flying in the air, landing in the baseball field.

"Wow. That's a personal best, Kaname. At least 100 feet." Kyuoko patted Kaname on back. "Now... tell me what really happened..."

The school bell rang, signaling it was dismissal time. Kaname dashed towards the door and ran as fast as she could out of there. The incident of her and Sousuke spread in the school like wildfire, and she had to put up with the constant teasing all throughout the day. 'This has got to be the worst day in my entire life!' She ran into the park to cool off and to get away from it all. The gentle shade of the trees that overshadowed Kaname calmed her a bit. No matter how hectic life was, she knew this park would always be there to offer peace. She sat under a large sakura tree, watching petals fall and glide as the breeze caught them up. Kaname closed her eyes and sighed. She needed more of this. She wished to hold on to moments like these, when everything seemed to melt away. Every cause of stress falling off like the petals.

"Miss Chidori?" Kaname opened one lid to see Sousuke standing next to her. She closed her eye again and huffed.

"What do you want, Sousuke? I'm trying to find some quiet and save what little dignity I have left."

"Shinji explained to me what my words implied. I- I'm truly sorry, Kaname."

She looked up at him and gazed into his eyes. They were soft and sincere. She knew he really was sorry. He only used her first name at special occasions when he was really serious. He sat down next to her and gazed at the foliage at they shimmered with sunbeams.

"I'll make it up to you."

"Forget it. What's done is done. Maybe a few years down we'll both remember this day and laugh. But right now... I just want some time to think."

"Understood." Sousuke got up and looked at her one last time before he left. Kaname gave the place one last gaze, as if she was saving it all to memory. She sighed softly and started to get up, when she felt a small box next to her. It was wrapped in silk and tied with a laced bow. She carefully opened it and inside was a tiny plush bear with a shirt that merely said "Sorry". Kaname smiled and clutched that little bear close to her. "That dummy... wasted good money on a silly little bear.' But she only meant it half-heartedly. In truth, she was happy. It was in these few moments that Sousuke opened up to her, and she saw him as a sweet thoughtful friend rather than her aggravation. She got up and flung the silk wrapper with the lace ribbon, letting them dance against the setting sun. She turned slowly towards her apartment, fading into the city, holding a little plush bear.