I got up Chapter 11, and it was almost the same day, too! Well, it's actually 11:56 right now... but it'll be past - ow - midnight when I've finished this. :P What can you do? I'm still - ow - sick, as you've probably noticed. But I'm doing a lot better. :) So, let's do the replies now, okay?

The Flying Frog: Believe me, I'm familiar with miscommunication; my mom will make you want to tear your hair out. ;) Sorry, I'll be serious now. The reason that isn't as noticeable in Kluke is that she has a worse temper. Also, I'd like to point out two instances that Kluke behaved slightly erratic - one, when she broke down and sobbed after the explosion, and two, when she threw the cooking utensil at Bouquet. Like I said before, her temper is bad, but that doesn't seem normal for even her. Yeah; I'll try to stop making things so confusing. :) Yes, Bouquet can be awfully fickle, can't she? Oh, definitely. ;) I think he's trying to figure out if he's in love with her, but he doesn't want to admit that he thinks he might be. Or something like that; I have no idea how that boy's mind works. But it's fun to try and figure out. ;) Yeah, they fight a lot; I don't want to give anything away, but there was one fight that was particularly worse than the others (at least, I think). Hm, you couldn't find episode one? Try YouTube for that; that's where I first watched Episode 1, and I moved onto Veoh once I discovered the site and that it had better video quality. But YouTube is improving a little (even though Veoh still has a bigger picture), so it's worth it to watch there for the first few episodes. Sorry, I didn't realize it wasn't there, otherwise I would've suggested YouTube first. I hope so; I already have a plan in motion that I think will (at least partially) solve one of your questions. Stick around for a bit longer, okay?

ultimashadow: I know; I held in some laughter when I wrote that. (Shu: Thanks. I think I'm going to need it.) Don't worry, kiddo; we'll be with you all the way. We'll see ever single blunder you make. ;)

Edward-Elric-in-red: Thanks. :D This would've been out the same day, but it is midnight, so does that count as soon?

Prince of Tennis' Shaman: Oh, thank you. :) Your reviews are helping me recover, too. Yeah, this would've been out the same day as last chapter. *sigh* If only I'd gotten to my computer a little bit sooner! Oh, well, it's the next day, and only a few minutes into it. If you don't complain, I won't. And you're always so nice, so I don't think you will. :) Oh, that's so sweet... I... WAH!! *cries* I'm so glad you're back! Sweet... more sweet... sweet again... Oh my God, I think you're one of the nicest people I've ever met. Well, met online. You're certainly buttering me up, at least. ;) Thanks for your idea about the gift. As soon as I read that, the answer came to me like something floating to the top of water. I've got it well and figured out now. ;) Since you're the only person to say which pairings they wanted, and those were the ones I wanted to do anyway, I think I'll stick with Kluke x Jiro and Bouquet x Shu unless I get enough nays. Looking forward to your reviews. :)

Okay! I'm - ow - still in pain, but I'm confident about this story again! I'm not going to let - ow - anything stop me! Now, uh... well... this chapter is shorter than the others. And that's - ow - because I'm not feeling well. So I guess I did get stopped by something. :P Well, I tried, didn't I? Anyway, after the disclaimer, we can get to the story.

Note: I've decided that thoughts for this story will be in all italics. Emphasized words in thoughts will be in regular text.

Disclaimer: I don't own - ow - Blue Dragon. Ow.

"Where are you off to?" Jiro glanced up from his book ever so slightly, trying to feign any interest.

"I have to get to work," Kluke said as she swung a check patterned scarf around her neck. "I'm already late, even though I have an excuse."

"Would that 'excuse' happen to be the fight between you and Bouquet?"

"How did you know?" Kluke's eyebrows creased; it wasn't like Bouquet and Jiro were known for chattering incessantly with each other.

"She told me," he shrugged. "Or rather, she was still fuming about you throwing something at her, and I couldn't help but overhear."

"I see," Kluke kept her voice soft. She couldn't tell what it was, but something bothered her about the fact that Bouquet had vented to Jiro. "Well, I better hurry."

"Be careful." he buried himself in the pages of the book to hide his blush.

"Thanks. Try not to get bored." With that, she left.

"So what kind of gift do you get for a girl, anyway?" Shu asked as he scanned the shop windows with his eyes.

"Something that lasts, maro." Marumaro was all concentration. Shu couldn't tell if he was doing it because he was getting into the gift searching or if the whole thing was an act to make himself look cool.

"And what's that supposed to be?"

"Jewelry, of course, maro."

Shu stopped dead in his tracks. "Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how expensive that is?"

"I didn't say it had to be a diamond, maro. You're kinda dumb sometimes, maro."

"That's what girls like, though." Shu answered a little sharply, throughly angry about the dumb comment; he wished that he could get through a day without someone insulting his intelligence.

"Not all girls, maro. Though I'm sure Bouquet is one of the ones who do, maro."

"She won't like anything else, then. I knew I shouldn't have come out here." Shu ran his hand through his hair.

"Relax, will you, maro? I think Bouquet would like to receive anything from you, no matter what it was, maro."

"... That doesn't make any sense."

Dense as usual, maro. Marumaro thought grimly. "She won't mind what it is because she's in love with you, maro."

Despite himself, Shu blushed. He was mad at Marumaro for continuing to push this subject about love (because he wasn't in love with Bouquet!), but... It was really nice of her. He'd always been surrounded by people his whole life, but he could never shake the feeling of being alone; the thought that someone would love him unconditionally (if not a little insanely) made his chest feel a little tight.

"I think this is a good place to start, maro." Marumaro stood, arms akimbo, in front of the jeweler's. "We'll find something here for sure, maro."

Shu eyed the sapphires in the display warily. "We might find something, but I doubt we could ever afford it."

"Where's your confidence, maro?" Marumaro slapped him on the back hard, making Shu stumble forward a little. "We're going to find something, even if it takes us 'til the end of time, maro!"

Bouquet's hands clenched into fists at her side as she realized she was lost.

She'd come out here with the perfect plan in mind, and already it seemed to be slipping through her fingers.

If only she'd been paying more attention when she ran past the shop earlier...

"What do you mean we don't have enough money, maro?!" Marumaro slammed his fist on the counter, in an odd role reversal of his and Shu's positions yesterday.

"Young man, I'll kindly thank you to not damage the counter," the cashier said stiffly. "It's made of glass, you know."

"And I'll kindly thank you to give us what we came for, maro!" Marumaro tried desperately to grab the ring, which was being held out of his reach.

Shu sighed, leaning his head against the wall. His head was hurting even worse than before, and he was starting to get dizzy. He kept hearing this little voice in his head saying I told you so, and he kept telling it to shut up.

"And now I'm going to have to ask you to leave," the cashier pointed at the door. "Thank you for stopping by."

"Wait just a minute, maro! I came here to-"

"Marumaro," Shu put his hand on his shoulder. "Let's just go. We'll look for another store."

Marumaro would've continued arguing with the guy, since there was something about him that just bugged him, but he could tell from that something was wrong with Shu from the look in his eyes. He sighed. "Fine, maro."

As they got outside, Shu barely caught himself as he tripped (whether it was on the snow or the steps, he couldn't tell).

"Shu, are you alright, maro?!" Marumaro grabbed him by the arm.

"I don't know... I feel weird." Shu was breathing hard.

"I know what's wrong with you, maro." he nodded to himself.

No, you don't. "You do?" Shu said aloud.

"Yep, maro. You need food, maro! Come on, maro!" Before Shu had a chance to protest, Marumaro was dragging him away.

Chapter 11 - ow - done! Sorry for the shortness. Next chapter will be longer and hopefully more interesting; we'll check up on Kluke to make sure she hasn't destroyed the store again, and see if Bouquet's found what she's looking for. And we'll see if Marumaro's seriously injured Shu yet. ;) Review if you can, I'll try to get the next chapter up after the 10 hit mark, and I'll see you later! :D