Name fun fact! Makoto- in Japan, from 1965 to 1975, Makoto was the most popular name given to baby boys (hee hee). Also, Makoto means "sincerity" in Japanese.

UNGRATEFUL JERK

"You ready for this? Don't underestimate me now." Luffa waved to Razor, who was standing about ten feet away in a fighting stance. They were in the area in front of the school where there were no trees, but some grass that hadn't been mowed for two weeks. Most everyone had gone on inside because the bell as due to ring any minute now.

"Yeah, right." Razor said with a condescending smile. Geez, this girl's not too bright. I'll just push her gently down to the ground. It's not honorable to hurt a defenseless opponent after all.

Razor looked up just in time to see Luffa running at her as she swung her leg around for a kick. "Whoa!" Razor jumped out of the way and landed some distance away.

"Oops! Missed!" Luffa fake laughed. "That was a close one!" Get your head in the game and hit me already! She thought with irritation.

That wasn't a bad move. Razor thought in surprise. Then she gripped her fists, no more fooling around. She wasn't about to let this airhead cheerleader get the better of her.

With that thought in her head Razor rushed at her adversary. She drew her fist back as she approached, ready to strike. Luffa stood there smiling with her arms gripped idly at her sides.

"WAIT!" Jatsuma suddenly jumped down out of the sky and landed feet first on top of Luffa, plowing her into the ground. Razor had been mere feet away and was barely able to stop in time to avoid running into Jatsuma.

"Jatsuma? Wha-"

"Razor! You can't fight!" Jatsuma yelled urgently.

Razor narrowed her eyes and scowled. "Can't? I can do whatever I damn well please! Who do you think you are to tell me what to do! I told you to butt out!"

"Would you just listen to me for once?" Jatsuma snapped angrily. Right then Luffa reached up and grabbed hold of Jatsuma's leg because he was standing on top of her head, causing him to fall over.

"AHH!" Jatsuma quickly sat up and saw that Luffa was still holding onto his leg. Her face was dirty but her expression was strangely soft.

"Jatsuma… You do care after all!" She leaned closer with a big smile on her face. "Oh Jatsuma! We'll be so happy together!"

"Eh?" Jatsuma's blank face suddenly filled with comprehension. "NO! I didn't mean to beat you! It was an accident!"

"Don't be shy! You came down here to stop my fight with Razor didn't you?"

"Yes, but-" Jatsuma's sentence was cut off as Luffa jumped forward and pressed her lips against his. They sat frozen like that for several seconds.

Razor snorted. "Should have guessed." She turned and started to walk away.

At that point Jatsuma finally pulled away from Luffa with a gasp for air and jumped up. "Razor! Hold on!" He quickly caught up to her.

"I get it, Jatsuma. You didn't want me to beat up your girlfriend. Sorry." Razor said sourly.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Jatsuma shouted.

"That's right!" Luffa wrapped her arm around his. "I'm his fiancée!"

"No you're not!" Jatsuma tried to pull away from her. "Look Razor! I'm just trying to explain what happened!"

"God you're annoying! I already said I was sorry!" Razor snapped.

Jatsuma's eye twitched angrily. "You- YOU DON'T GET IT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT I JUST DID TO HELP YOU? HUH? DO YOU?"

"Would you get out of my face?" Razor shouted as she punched him in the nose. "How many times do I have to say it? I don't want your help!"

"You're such an ungrateful jerk!"

"What do I have to be grateful FOR?"

"YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW?"

"Jatsuma, please." Luffa hugged him tightly. "Don't be mad at Razor. He hasn't come between us after all."

"That's not why I'm mad!" Jatsuma insisted with a stern look at Luffa. When he looked back up he saw that Razor was walking away again. "Hey! Where do you think you're going?"

"To class. We're about to be late you know." Razor huffed.

"So that's it? You're not even going to listen to me?" Jatsuma asked with a sneer.

Razor rounded on him with fire in her eyes. "NO! And you know why? Because every time I listen to you things get worse! All it accomplishes is making me angry!"

"Well- Well fine then!" Jatsuma shouted. "Live in ignorance! See if I care!"

"You are such an ass!" Razor shouted as she punted him away across the school.

"Jatsuma!" Luffa called before turning to Razor. He must have figured out what was going on. "Don't be angry Razor. It wouldn't have worked out between us." With that, Luffa happily ran in the direction Jatsuma had flown.

Razor blinked in confusion as she watched the cheerleader run away. "Wouldn't have-? What the heck does that mean?"

At that moment that bell rang and Razor knew she was late. With her school bag in tow she ran into the building, heading for her classroom. All that she could make of Jatsuma and his cheerleader girlfriend was that they were both idiots.

MINUTES LATER IN THE CLASSROOM

Razor's seat was at the back of the room so she took the doorway furthest from the teacher and snuck in on her hands and feet. The teacher probably wouldn't have noticed even if she had walked in singing the national anthem. But Razor managed to get to her seat and luckily the role was still being taken.

"Razor?" The teacher called in his uninterested monotone voice.

"Present." Razor answered huffily, as she was still in a bad temper.

"Very good. Renu, Akemi?" He called the next name.

"Present!" A girl near the front raised her hand.

"Very good. Saotome, Jatsuma?"

"Bark!" Iikiba yipped at Jatsuma's empty desk to get the teacher's attention.

"Very good." The teacher marked Jatsuma present. Iikiba looked annoyed.

"Hey, Razor?" April whispered from several seats up and to the right. "So how did the fight go? You and Luffa are engaged now, right?"

Razor raised an eyebrow. "Who? What are you talking about?"

April blinked. "Surely Luffa told you she was an Amazon after you beat her? Or she should have, at the very least. In any case, Jatsuma's free now right?"

"Luffa? Isn't that the name of one of Shampoo's daughters?" Razor asked herself as realization finally dawned on her. "That cheerleader was Luffa?"

"Yeah. And you beat her right? That's how Amazons work. When a female Amazon is defeated they must marry the man who defeated them. It's your law."

"No, Jatsuma defeated her." Razor explained, as much to herself as to the other girl. "But… it was an accident. He was trying to stop me from defeating her."

"He what?" April hissed. "Why would he do that?"

Razor didn't say anything more. She just stared at her desk until April turned back around with a peeved expression on her face.

So… he really was…and I didn't even let him explain himself. Jatsuma just got himself engaged to someone he didn't want to be with just to help me. Razor sighed internally. Crap, what am I supposed to do now?

MEANWHILE IN THE INFIRMARY

"Just a quick call! I forgot my medicine at home this morning! I need to get my Dad to bring it to me!" Luffa implored the nurse, who was looking at her suspiciously.

"Oh, very well. But make it short. I've got a kid in the back with a fever of 103 and mucus coming out the wazoo. So no funny business!" The nurse left the phone on the wall to Luffa and returned to her patient in the back room.

"Promise!" Luffa called after the nurse. Then Luffa dialed the number for the Cat Café and waiting eagerly as the phone rang three times and was answered on the fourth ring.

"Cat Café. Best noodle shop in time. We do deliveries and dine-ins. How may I help you?" Mascara answered the phone. Perfect.

"Hey Mascara!" Luffa said cheerfully.

"Luffa? Why are you calling? Is there something you need?" Mascara asked, puzzled.

"No, no. Just thought I'd give you a buzz." Luffa answered casually. "You know, just wanted to wish you good luck with Iikiba. I'm sure you'll be very happy with him."

"Or Jatsuma." Mascara sighed dreamily.

"Oh, fraid not honey. Because Jatsuma defeated ME! That's right! He just couldn't bare the thought of me being with another man!" Luffa shouted into the receiver.

"WHAT? You're engaged?" Mascara asked frantically.

"That's right! So give it up Mascara! YOU LOSE! HA!" Luffa slammed the phone down to hang up. "That felt good!" She said happily, putting her hands on her hips. "I feel so empowered!"

"That's wasn't a medical call, was it?" The nurse asked threateningly as she reentered the room. "I was just in the next room you know. I could hear everything you were saying."

"Oops." Luffa quickly ran out of the infirmary and down the hall.

"That's a detention for you girl!" The nurse shouted after her.

AT THE CAT CAFÉ

Mascara grasped the phone tightly in her hand. Luffa's last mocking words were ringing in her head. Her anger grew and the phone cracked and fell into a thousand pieces.

"If she thinks she can take Jatsuma away from me…" Mascara dropped the shattered phone and clutched her fists. A fire was raging in her eyes. "SHE'S GOT ANOTHER THING COMING!"

"Mascara, we've got a delivery for you." Shampoo walked over carrying a food box. "It for 111 Martin Street."

"I'm taking the rest of the day off!' Mascara shouted as she rushed out of the restaurant as quickly as she could.

Shampoo blinked when Mascara was gone. Then she shrugged. "Mousse! You've got a delivery!"

I haven't been getting my chapters up as often as I would like. But take solace in the fact that I will be home for a week before heading to camp. (Tis the life of summer.)