this is my longest chapter yet, i must really like writing this one! please enjoy my story, there's a return of the unsavory in this chapter and now whats happening between these two? you'll have to keep reading to know more about our little friends!

On Akira's walk home he pondered his new friends proposal. 'If I move up I'll be noticed more, I don't need that from the teachers. But perhaps, I will gain more respect, maybe I won't get picked on so much." as he thought about the pro's and con's of the situation he couldn't help but feel an ominous force behind him. He picked up the pace and tried to walk faster. He had a long walk to and from the school because he didn't like the bus, and was still at least a mile from his home. He looked around nervously and saw nothing, he still decided to walk as fast as his long legs could carry him but the ominous force wouldn't go away. He recognized it some how but couldn't put his finger on quite why or from when, it felt like a long time ago. He turned the corner on the street near his and hoped it was nothing. He slowed his pace as the feeling seemed to fade some when a big wall of dirty shirt appeared in front of him suddenly, he didn't have to look up to know it was butch, the sleeze bag bully who thought he was a girl and was gonna rape him. He shuddered remembering that day so fresh in his mind.

"Hello Butch."

"You little freak, your gonna pay for embarrassing me like that!"

'Its your own fault Butch, you're the one who..."

"You shut up! Im gonna smash you into a gooey puddle you little freak."

"You are a horrible person Butch"

"ohhh horrible, such strong words for someone who'll be paste in a minute."

"I don't care Butch. Leave me alone."

"Or what your friends will come and rescue you? they don't even live around here! And its not like any of them can do anything. My buddy's mom is on the board, I won't get in trouble at all and if they try to do anything no one will believe them! Your helpless!" he grabbed Akira by the neck and threw him against a wall. He mercilessly beat the frail boy to within inches of his life, and left him bleeding in the ally.

Kurama had noticed half way to his house that he had accidentally picked up Akira's work for class and decided to return it to him. As he grew closer to Akira's home he felt the fleeting feeling of what felt like darknes, but it was gone so fast he didn't think of it much. Kurama, coming around a corner noticed a large brutish looking guy coming out of the allys, with blood on his hands. Waiting until he passed kurama darted back up the ally fearing the worst. And as he drew close his fears were confirmed, there was Akira beaten and bleeding but still conscious, and trying to stand.

"Akira! Akira are you all right?" "Stupid question" he thought to himself.

"Kurama?"

"Its okay, don't talk I'll explain later, I gotta get you to your house now." he propped him up and helped him walk home. They got to Akira's home and went in. Kurama looked about his empty home and saw he lived with very little. "Where's the first aid kit?"

"In the bathroom cupboard, on the bottom shelf." he said through clenched teeth. Coming back with the kit Kurama hurriedly opened it.

"You need to take off your shirt Akira, so I can check your ribs."

"I...uhhh... okay, give me a minute." he peeled his shirt off slowly and painfully the bruises painfully obvious. Kurama gently felt his chest and found that miraculously, he only had one more broke rib then before, but it was badly broken.

"We'll get to that later, we have to bandage your other wounds."

'Okay... what are you doing here anyway? I thought you went home?"

"I accidentally picked up your work and I was going to bring it back to you. Then I saw that bully coming out of the ally and I got worried so I looked and there you were."

"Well, thanks Kurama, that could have been really bad if you hadn't come."

"Well your other wounds are done, but if that rib is gonna heal we got to get it back into place, maybe we should go to a hospital."

"No hospitals, I don't like hospitals much, I want you to do it, I trust you."

"All right Akira." he said with a nod. Positioning his hands right with a sudden jerk he popped the rib back into place with a yelp from Akira. "You took that well, your used to it aren't you?"

"I've never been beat so brutally twice in one week before, but yeah."

"Akira?"

"Yeah?"

"Why do you move around so much, because of the bullies?"

"No, I'd rather not talk about it."

"Ohh okay, I won't pry." he said quietly looking at Akira. Akira returned his gaze with a smile. After a minute or two they realized they were staring at each other,and turned away with a blush. Both thinking at the same time. "Well that was weird, and yet..."

"So, you have my work Kurama?"

"Oh, yeah its here." he fished through his bag and pulled out the paper and handed it to him.

"Heh, these are notes... you could have waited until tomorrow."

"They're notes? Well I'm glad I thought they were an assignment, or I wouldn't have come."

'I'm glad too... Say, you want to stay? you have all your work here already, we can work on it together?"

"Sounds good, do you mind if I stay the night? I can make sure that bully doesn't jump you in the morning."

"I don't mind, I don't have much for food, but what's in there is yours if you want it. "

"Okay, thank you, maybe we should tell a teacher about that bully."

'No, his friends mom can get them off, and you'll get in trouble instead, just stay out of his way."

"All right if that's what you want, I guess we'll just have to keep an eye on you."

"I guess." he smiled and there was another instance of strange staring at each other that made them embarrassed at themselves. That night Kurama decided that they should become study partners, switching between homes to study at, so he could keep and eye on his frail friend.

That night as they both settled down to sleep thought ran though there heads. Kurama was wondering how to convince the teacher to switch the books for Akira and what to do about the bully. As well as why he was so drawn to him.

Akira's thought however raced on what that ominous force he felt was before he was beaten, something told hin they weren't related. Just coincidental. But he too thought of the strange bond he seemed to share with this boy in his home, never before had he warmed up to anyone so fast, not even... as sleep took him and his mind drifted into the night.

woo, who's this person Akira remembers so strongly, and what does he have to do with anything?youwill learn more in the future if you keep reading!and if it seems to be slow tell me! review please!