Hi everyone! Wow, it's been awhile, hasn't it? BTW, AnimeNEXT (the con I went to) was AWESOME!

(I'm gonna start talking about AnimeNEXT so if you want just skip it.) Did anyone else go?

I wanted to go for the three days but I had to work on Sunday :( Still, this year was second year going there and for the first time I went to a con more than 1 day so it's okay. I was so sad I couldn't get to see LittleKuriboh though. My friend and I went on Saturday a little late than we had originally planned but still managed to arrived about an hour early from the time LittleKuriboh's panel was going to be and we thought we were gonna be okay. Boy, if anyone of you went there you must have seen that line is was so HUGE. Still we waited there for a few minutes before we were told that it was already at full capacity and to go somewhere else. bummer. We were looking forward to it the most. Still we had lots of fun.

There was also this panel called Story telling 101, and I swear someone asked something about an original character and it sounded like Yori. I really thought so. My friend thought that too but I'm shy and I didn't have the courage to turn around to see the person nor asked out loud who the character in question was ;_; I wanted to know so badly if it really was Yori. That panel was a lot of fun and I was recording it but my mp3 I had put too many songs so the memory was pretty much full and it only record the first 10 min so I didn't really get to record the part of the question. Since it was about a month ago I can't remember it either. Anyhow, it was great even if I could barely walk on Sunday as I was so tired from lack of sleep, walking all day, playing so much, it was awesome but next time I'm taking a day off after going to a con. lol.

(end of AnimeNEXT blabber)

I have good news, bad news but I have no idea if they're good or bad for you some of them.

Good news: I have so many ideas for the future chapters right now I'm already writing chapter 19! =D

Bad news: They increase my hours at work and in a weird schedule which doesn't leave me much free time. =D (That's kinda good for me since it's more money for the NYAF :P)

Good news: I'm finally able to play World of Warcraft after a long time! =D I also got a few other games I like very much!

Bad news: I wanna play them so I may forget about writing sometimes. Sorry! I'll try to continue updating monthly though.

One last thing, the few next chapter may take me a little time since it's complicated to write it down. I know what's happening and all, I have made notes and all but jeez, it really is hard to put it down on paper. I'm already doing it but this chapter didn't have that many stuff and I had to change it a lot and take out a lot of stuff. I had like 3 deleted scenes. I changed the begining of the chapter like 4 times but I think it's turned out good for what I wanted.

Well, enough me talking and I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 18: Aoi

"I don't wanna!" Yori whined while shaking her head furiously. Aki, who earlier had gone back to her house to change clothes and had already returned to go together with Yori to school, just sighed. "I'm scared!" she clenched onto Aki.

"Maybe she should just stay," suggested Crow. "After all, those men-"

Aki gave Crow a look. "She's not scared of them. That's not the reason why she doesn't want to go."

"Eh? Then why?"

Yori let go of Aki and used her pigtails to cover her face as she often did when she felt extremely embarrassed. "It's embarrassing." She mumbled, looking away.

"I don't get it. From what you told me that happened, I'd say he's not bad." Aki said as she was beginning to get frustrated with her friend.

Yori looked unsure. "I just get this feeling…I can't explain it. It's like I want him to stay away but he will only try to get closer." She scratched nape.

"Who are you two talking about?" asked Rua.

"The transfer student." Both of them replied in unison.

"Did he do something to you?" asked Yusei concerned.

Yori blushed and looked away. "Fine, let's go." She finally gave in, ignoring Yusei completely. "I'll have to face him sooner or later anyway." She said dejected.

"See you later guys, we'll meet at Burger World at four." Aki reminded them.

"See you later,"

"Yori, stop acting like a spoil child," Aki's voice could still be heard even with the door close.

"I am a spoil child, can't help it." Whined Yori.

"That girl sure is something," Crow chuckled.

Both Jack and Yusei agreed quietly, amused.

Classes were starting and being Tuesday, it meant that today there will only be two classes to share with Aki. If Ralph had been there, it would have meant that they would have spend the entire day together since they had all of the same classes that day.

However, since he was not there and the new student had arrived at the precise moment Ralph was away; it meant he would be the one sharing all the classes with Yori. In order words, it was like he was taking Ralph's place. He literally was, since he was sitting next Yori in all of their classes.

For the most part, it had been okay. Sitting all the way in the front, had its advantages and not being able to talk; right now, prove to be one of them. She could feel his gaze on her and she tried to ignore it but his sharp eyes made it hard. He wanted to say something to her, she was sure but what that was, she had no idea. The only thing she was sure of was that she did not want to have any contact with him. She just wanted to stay as far away as possible from him.

This kind of feeling, this kind of reaction and rejection for someone was something new to her. Never had she felt such…annoyance, repulsion? Repulsion was probably the most appropriate word since it wasn't hate exactly but just this strong feeling of rejection. She didn't understand it at all either. It was not like he was bad, not from what she had seen so far. Even if he was, or at least she thought, he was a player that was not enough reason. Back home, she knew a player, a real lady-killer but she was friends with him; even if would sometimes hit on her which was annoying. So, why…?

"Yori-chan," a smirk was plastered on the handsome face of the boy sitting next to her.

Yori looked at him slightly startled; just when had the bell rung. She couldn't believe it was already lunch time.

"I told you I'd see you tomorrow but I didn't think I would have the privilege to sit next to you." He crooked his head slightly and she couldn't help but think how handsome he really was.

'No! Don't fall for it!' she told herself. Still, she couldn't do anything against the blush in her cheeks.

"I'm not very familiar with the school," he stood up. "Would you show me around?" he extended his hand.

"I-I, um, actually," Yori's mind was mess. 'Why do I have to be weak bishies…?'

"It's decided then," he took her hand and dragged her out.

The few students who were still in the room looked surprised. The girls glared at Yori, who sweat-dropped. She could even hear the poisonous whispers.

'It's not like I want to go,' she thought as she noticed all the glares from the girls as they walked through the hallways. 'Someone save me!' Even though she was panicking on the inside she still manage to look calm and poise as the image everyone had of Sayori Tenma.

"Yori!"

Yori's ears' perked up at the sound of the familiar voice. 'I'm saved!' she exclaimed excitedly in her mind as she turned to see her friend. "Aki"

"Oh?" Aki exclaimed a little surprised when the guy who was holding Yori's hand finally turned around. "Um," for a moment she was loss at words "Yori, can you help me with English?"

"Sure!" Yori said immediately. "Sorry, um-" she tried to apologize but she had not been listening at all when he said his name.

"Aoi." He said when the girl couldn't remember his name. "Just call me Aoi." He smiled with smiled that made him look so handsome.

She blushed. "I'm sorry, Aoi but I have to go help Aki so…"

"It's alright. I understand." He replied amicably. "Should I help too? I grew up in America(1) after all."

'Can't this guy take a hint?' Yori thought frustrated. She just couldn't think of anything to get away from him.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Replied Aki.

Yori blinked dumbfounded a few times as Aki's words sank in. 'Aki, you traitor!' she shot a glared at the red-haired girl, who didn't even notice.

It really was a good thing to have a lunch that lasted an hour since it gave plenty of time for Aki to do her English essay and eat something.

"Thanks, Aoi. You were great help" thanked Aki.

"Don't mention it." He replied. "After all, it was a pleasure to be in the company of two lovely ladies." He smiled. Aki blushed but understood a little what Yori had said to her the night before(2), though she realized it wasn't exactly as Yori thought.

Aoi and Aki were carrying a normal conversation like friends and there was a pleasant aura coming from them. Yori, on the other hand, now looked positively annoyed and she was emitting an almost murderous aura.

'Just who does he think he is teaching Aki? She asked me for help not him. English and math are my best subjects, how dare he take away my joy! I feel so humiliated! He knows more than I!' she thought jealously. 'I know I have forgotten some stuff since I graduated two years ago but this is so-'

"Um, Yori?" asked Aki unsurely, interrupting the girl's train of thought.

"Hmm?" Yori turned towards her friend.

"I think you've cut your food more than enough," Aki pointed to the girl's plate.

Yori hadn't noticed at all but it she had cut everything in her plate, even the rice, so she had no idea what Crow had made for her. She had made it picadillo(3).

"Eh?" she groaned. It took her a second to realize, but she noticed Aoi was not there anymore. "Where's that guy?"

"Some girls came asking for help with something and took him, you didn't see?" asked Aki as she already eating. "I felt sorry for him but I rather stay out of their way."

Yori nodded in agreement. "I was scared witless when he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the classroom." Yori commented. "All those glares," she shivered. "Girls are scary."

Aki nodded and then realized. "We're girls too."

"Why do you think I'm saying it?" Yori grinned.

Aki felt puzzled by Yori's words for a moment, and then shook her head as chuckled. .

"Can anyone tell me what is something that you notice between these two scenarios?" asked the teacher, referring to the book the class was suppose to have finished reading called Amistad(4) and the changes with Satellite. "What is something that the people back in the 1800s had in common with the people from today?"

'This is like my Diaspora class back in my senior year.' Yori couldn't help but think that as she had done this while being in High School. 'I remember Amistad very well.' She raised her hand.

"Yes…" replied the teacher as he pointed in her direction. "Aoi-kun."

Yori lowered her hand again and looked at, more like glared at, the boy sitting next to her.

"Yes. Back then people took slaves merely because they were different. A few months back it was the same with Satellite. The people in Neo Domino City were the masters and the people in Satellite worked like slaves; only because they had been born there." He answered.

Just like in the other classes, Aoi was answering all the questions. It had happened all day too, whenever a teacher would ask if anyone knew the answer and Yori was raising her hand he would end up beating her and answer before she even had the chance. It was extremely irritating for her.

Yori was just grateful that this would be the last one, but just how could fifteen minutes suddenly turned into three hours? That's how long the last remaining minutes of class seemed to Yori, at least. She wasn't sure why time seemed to stretch so much, was it because she was excited about going to eat out with everyone or because she couldn't wait to get away from Aoi? Perhaps, it was both.

"Yes, that is correct. The Africans had done nothing wrong and yet were forced to hard labor and maltreated. Just as Aoi-kun said because they were different." Explained the teacher. "Now, can anyone tell me, why we are studying this?" asked the teacher.

"Because you didn't have the chance to finish the history class, Yamaguchi-sensei?" replied one of the students.

"No, that's not it." The good-natured teacher laughed. "Let me rephrase it, why is important to study history?" he looked at the entire class and only one student raised her hand.

"History tends to repeat itself." Yori replied confidently.

"Correct," The final bell finally rang. "Well, that's all for today. Go straight home everyone,"

Yori was glad it was finally over, she along with Aki quickly left the classroom. They waited a few minutes near the school entrance for the twins and finally they got on their way.

"I'm so tired!" she exclaimed and put her head down on the table at the fast food restaurant next to her tray.

The guys had been waiting in the restaurant as agreed and since Crow had already waited in line for them they didn't have to wait much to place their orders.

"How come Aki-neechan doesn't look tired at all? You're classmates aren't you?" Asked Rua.

"We only had two classes together today," replied Yori. "It's that guy's fault anyway."

"Whose fault?" asked Yusei.

"The new guy, Aoi" she sat up. 'Why does his name have to be Aoi? I love blue, it's my favorite color but I guess this Aoi will the only one I hate.' She thought as she proceeded to open the cup with ice-cream angrily.

"I still don't get what's so bad about him," said Aki as she watched her friend eat her ice-cream, which one of many desserts she had ordered.

Yori shot a look at Aki. "Are you serious?" she asked rhetorically. "He answered every single question I was about to answer. Also, when you asked me for help, didn't he help you and then the other girls asked him to help them too? Cheap trick."

"Um, Yori, all you're saying is that he's smart and kind." Replied Aki.

"No!" exclaimed Yori. "He's not, I mean the kind part. I can't deny he's pretty smart but… anyway! He is bad news. I know what I am saying." Yori insisted.

Aki sighed. "You are making no sense. From what you've told me, what you just said and I've seen, I'd say he is a decent guy. Since the moment you've met, he's only been nice to you and yet you're being so…" Aki tried to find a nice word to express what she was really thinking.

Yori gave her a look knowing what Aki was trying to say but didn't because of the twins. "Whatever. Nothing is gonna change my mind." She replied stubbornly.

"Why are you so hung up on that guy anyway?" asked Crow.

"I guess it's a woman's intuition?" Yori replied.

Aki sighed. "I think you're angry since he answered most of the questions and that hurt your pride."

"Yeah, so what? Isn't that enough reason to-" she gasped.

"What's wrong?" asked Yusei as he saw both girls gasped. Yori was looking around frenetically and then suddenly she just hid under the table.

"Hello Aki," greeted the seventeen year old guy with dark-greenish hair.

"Aoi, hi," greeted Aki. She couldn't help but look under the table from time to time nervously since Yori was hiding under it.

"I see you're with friends," he commented. "It's nice to meet you all," he said courtly receiving the same kind of greeting. "Hmm, I guess I must have seen wrong then."

"What do you mean?" asked Aki who regretted the second she asked as she saw Yori glare daggers at her.

"I thought I had seen Yori-chan that's why I came in. Well, I won't disturb you any longer." He said as he was retreating. Yori sighed in relief but she had moved her hand outside the table boundaries and as he moved his foot he ended up stepping on her injured hand.

"OWW!" she yelped as she tried to get up and ended up hitting her head with the table.

"That must have hurt," commented Rua.

"I'm sorry" apologized Aoi. "But what were you doing under the table?" he asked as he extended his hand to help her up.

She looked away as tried to rub both her head and hand, which proved to be impossible.

"Are you alright?" asked Crow, who was the closest and saw her still on the floor holding her hand with traces of tear on her eyes ready to fall.

She nodded. 'It hurts!'

"C'mon, let me help you up," Aoi said gently.

"I don't need your help!" was what she wanted to say but reluctantly, very reluctantly she accepted his extended hand and allowed him to help her up to her feet.

"I'm very sorry for hurting you," said Aoi again.

"Don't mind it, you didn't know," she replied coolly as she looked away.

"I guess, it can't be help that you're angry," he said as he showed a sad smiled. "Anyway what I wanted to tell you was… if you need anything please come to me. Be sure I'd do anything for you."

She blinked. She looked at him as she was leaving.

"James, Hiroki, Ryuu, let's go." Aoi said a few paces away from their table.

Yori didn't even gasp in surprise but her mouth opened slightly in shock. It was three of the men that had followed Yusei and her the night before.

"But young master-" started one of them.

Aoi's eyes became cold as he looked at the man seating a few meters away. Yori saw the man flinch and looked back at Aoi.

"Must I repeat myself?" Aoi raised an eyebrow.

The man stood up. "James, Hiroki, we're going." The other two nodded silently and followed the boy.

"Sorry about this, Yori-chan" apologized Aoi as he left along with the goons.

"Yori, those guys…" started Yusei.

She nodded. "Uh-huh. They were the ones following us yesterday."

"What?" said Jack who had been eating quietly, uninteresting the conversation.

"But if those guys were the ones after you why did they obey Aoi-san?" asked Ruka.

"I'd like to know that too, Ruka." Replied Yori still flabbergasted.

Author's Note:

1. America: I know Japanese speaker use America when they refer to the United States so I thought I'd just leave it like that too. Though originally I was gonna go with "I grew up in the States"

2. "…what Yori had said to her the night before" I'm gonna save you the trouble of going back and look for it in case you forgot. (It's on the previous chapter) Yori had said to Aki that Aoi was a player so know Aki knows why Yori thought so.

3. Picadillo: is actually a popular dish in my original country and I heard in other Latin American countries as well. Basically, the word Picadillo comes from "picar" which is "to mince," "to chop" so since Yori chopped everything that's pretty much how it would look, kinda. Seriously, Picadillo has lots of stuff there but since everything is mix and cut in really small pieces I can never tell what's in there. Lol.

4. Amistad: a very good movie and book. It's about slavery though in the movie there was a scene I really couldn't watch since it was gross. I remember that well because my teacher said she didn't like that part either.

I went over my fic since I need to know the time Yori has spent in there and I found a few things:

- I made a mistake. Ralph is about a head taller than Yori, it was Chris (Cindy's brother) who was taller than her by an inch. I got them mixed :p Sorry. (that's back in chapter 6)

- In chapter 13, the part when Yori is being a total Otaku and talking about the post card thing. Well, when I was writing it I didn't remember but I was watching Lucky Star again for the nth time and heard Konata say the same thing. I think I might have subconsciously quoted Konata. I was kinda surprised.

As always please, review. I always like to hear from you. Just don't ask me when the next chapter is gonna be up, I'm working on it.