Disclaimer: I sadly do no own any of the characters in FY or FY itself….but proud to say I own my own creativity….

CHAPTER19

SMALL FIGHTS DON'T MATTER.

Everyone now noticed that Tasuki was making a conscious effort to keep Arwen by his side no matter what. The only problem was that they couldn't figure out why or why Arwen was taking to it so well. Tasuki would never usually bother about a girl like this unless there was something really wrong, but this time they were totally stumped as to what. Nothing happened that was dangerous then what?

The sad thing in college was the death of Keiko Tazuka. The cause of her death was murder but no one had even the slightest clue as to why she had been murdered. Not even the police.

The case just kept dragging on with out a single clue.

But everyone and everything got back into the normal flow of life after the brief mourning for the loss of their colleague. Arwen and Tasuki, the gang noticed seemed the most torn about it.

They figured Arwen was sad as she thought of Keiko as a younger sister, and wanted to protect her angel of a friend. So naturally her death would come as blow, but Tasuki…

Tasuki seemed to get upset every time Arwen became sad about this.

Anytime that she became sad about this that week in college, he would be the one to pull her out to walk with him before the gang could even get near her to ask about what it was that was bothering her so much.

"He's just looking out for her I guess." Hori shrugged casually trying to defend his friend.

The cause… at least this way maybe he would find love. No one was going to stop that. No.

"Looking out for what Hori?" Miaka nodded confused.

"Looks to me like the guy was hiding something from us." Taka nodded suspiciously as he eyed Arwen talking to Tasuki standing pretty close.

"They're thick friends Taka. They have more going on between them even I don't know about."

"And how is that? I thought she was just helping him out!"

"They do study together most of the time, and most of the day…they spend lot of time with each other you know, as friends… like us." Anya said thoughtfully.

Hori nodded in agreement, "You see, they have a lot of time to spend with each other. But you know…something happened on Valentine's Day. Since then I've noticed he's become very possessive and protective of her."

Anya shifted uncomfortably at this. "Something wrong Anya?" Hori turned to her. "Since Valentine's is it? Well so you've noticed it too?" he nodded.

"Oh I get it." Chichiri said suddenly. "You remember she got those cards and stuff all the time that day… yeah well he's keeping to her side to keep the other guys off. Or it could be something else too…"

"But you know Chichiri… one of those guys could be the one she might end up with." Nuriko said slowly.

"Maybe you're right no da." He shrugged but he smiled to himself. But you might just be wrong Nuriko…there are perfect plans for this already.

A few weeks later…

The gang was walking back after college.

Tasuki was walking with Arwen as usual. The topic that day had somehow come to what everyone was going to do in their life. But then it suddenly changed to marriage.

"How's you're project going guys? I heard the science departments were in for a gladiator for this." Chichiri asked casually as they walked on.

"It's going fine. We have more than half of it to figure out though. The equations and stuffs done." Hori replied turning his attention from talking to Anya.

"It's just we have to show Mr. Carmen Hori. He has to check them." Arwen objected turning to look at him from up ahead with Tasuki.

"Yeah I know. But we know they're all perfect Ari. Still double-checking is always good. Too bad, we could have done it today."

"But he didn't turn up today. I have no idea why. He never takes a day off like this."

"Mr. Carmen your teacher. The tall good looking one?" Miaka giggled suddenly.

"Hey!" Taka was surprised. "Hullo! I'm right here!"

"Sorry Taka but he's the tall one right? The guy with the glasses and good looks, coach for our soccer team?" Arwen nodded. It seemed not even Miaka had been spared from falling in love with the way her teacher looked. There wasn't one girl in college who didn't swoon at the sight of her athletic teacher. Not even herself. Something that always seemed to annoy Tasuki and Julian to the max.

"Well." Miaka seemed a little disappointed. "A little birdie told me that he was getting married today."

The gang stopped shocked at this.

For one, the topic had come to marriage. Something Arwen detested apart from it for her own parents. Second, it was really shocking to hear most of the college was going to have a heart break at once, his wedding was a shock. Why now?

"No wonder all ya girls were so pissed off today." Tasuki grinned at the disappointment on Arwen's face.

She stuck out her tongue at him as they began to walk making him laugh even more.

The gang was relieved that the topic didn't go further, or at least that's what they thought.

"I know its disappointing Ari. Since you were his favorite." Arwen nodded smiling at Miaka.

"But don't you think it's sweet? He's found his someone to spend his life with. Like me?" she hugged Taka's hand.

Arwen just looked up at Tasuki to see his reaction but he just stared on ahead ignoring the question it seemed. Like her. She just shrugged.

The others were in a fix. Both of them didn't like the topic, since a debate they had a few days back.

What are you doing Miaka. Away from the topic! Not to it again. Chichiri thought frantically.

"That's nice to know whom you're going to spend your life with." She continued. "I wonder where we'll all be ten years from now?"

"I know where I'll be." Tasuki replied coolly. "Happy, single and earning big with cars!"

"I know where I'll be." Arwen smiled as well. "At NASA doing research."

"I think not." Tasuki said sardonically.

The gang froze, Arwen froze. "What?"

"I think that might be the other way round. You'll probably end up at the opposite end."

He said coolly.

"Uh Tasuki… you should not have said that." Hori eyed Arwen who was standing behind Tasuki going redder by the second.

"Why not. For the silly hussy I know. That's what I think."

"Bad idea Tasuki." Taka nodded pointing to behind him.

"Is that so?" Tasuki heard Arwen's voice before he fell back into taka holding his jaw, blood trickling through his fingers.

"I don't think so BUB! Maybe you! Getting around with the first sicko that would please you. Not me! I have life-planned thanks! Don't you dare talk about me like that again." Her eyes were red with anger. She stomped her foot hard and swinging around on her heels she walked off.

Anya shot him an alarmed look. "Mr. Tasuki! I thought you knew she didn't like it since then! Remember!" she went of after Arwen.

Tasuki blinked as Taka pushed him upright.

"What just happened?" Tasuki could feel his jaw aching in surges, but everything was a haze.

"You my friend." Taka sat him down. "Have just been face to face with pure rage."

"A girl! I got hit by a girl!" he muttered. First he was shocked that Arwen should ever hit him. Second he was surprised that Arwen had so much strength to hit like this at all.

This wasn't the same girl whom he had just saved from five thugs. If she was just so strong…why didn't she take them on that day?

He was just pissed off that a girl he thought he needed to be around to protect should clobber him.

That evening or that night he discovered the joy that was hanging out at the bar with friends. That was also the time he treaded upon the wonder that was aspirin.

When he woke up the next morning he was a total mess. A hangover from all the beers. But again the aspirin seemed to be working wonders.

"Wish I had this thing there for sake!" he nodded to clear his eyes as he walked to college.

That was when he realized. The day before was the only evening he hadn't seen Arwen since they began studying. He missed it but he was still too cross to miss it too much.

That day the gang was in the same soup again. Arwen and Tasuki were not talking to the other. She didn't even bother turning to look at him let alone talk.

He was too busy having a hang over to bother making up, besides still being pissed off with his supposedly weak friend.

That evening again Tasuki was walking back with the gang. Only Arwen hadn't joined them. He wondered if it was because of him. But then someone pulled him back as he thought this.

"Arwen." He said coldly as he turned around.

She was eyeing his lips. There was a deep gash right across, a result of a powerful punch fueled by anger.

"Tasuki." She looked up as she reached up to touch the cut. "Did I …"

"Duh! With bony hands that's what you'd expect!" he turned away from her touch.

"Shun'u I'm sorry! I got too carried away." She made him look down at her. "You see. Your saying that brought up something I didn't want to remember from the past." She said sadly.

That's when it hit him. Of course! Yue! How could I have been so stupid! I forgot about him completely! Damn! That's what Anya told me to remember! He started to feel bad immediately.

"Can you forgive me Tasuki? However angry I was I shouldn't have hit you." She looked up at him eagerly.

He sighed. "Look I was just kidding kid. I know you have ambitions and I'm sure you're make them a reality… but I can't help but think you'll find someone else on the way to help you with that. Is that so wrong?" she nodded.

"I guess I'm to blame too. I didn't get it out the right way yesterday. Not like I meant to… so friends?" he held out his hand smiling gently. She was overjoyed at this. She practically pounced up to hug him.

"Thank you so much."

"Hey kid! If you still want your body guard to stay alive stop choking him!" Tasuki gasped.

She got off him laughing. "Thank you very much my sweet body guard. I have someone for you to beat up."

The gang was watching this curiously.

"What's really going on between them?" Nuriko asked suspiciously as she watched Hori smile pleased when she hugged him.

"Nothing actually. He's just her bodyguard I think. That's all." Anya smiled at Hori with the same pleased look. He nodded in agreement.

"And I vote we leave them alone." He ushered them away.

"Whom?" Tasuki asked as she dragged him off.

"Well Tasuki…I was upset yesterday…and I was at the park." She began hesitantly.

"Whom?" He said with dawning comprehension. This seemed to anger him. He needn't be told what had happened.

"It's not his fault either. But still I didn't like it and I wasn't too conscious about it…"

"What the hell did that bastard do?" he stopped short and pulled her back. "One evening I'm not with you and you get messed up like this? What happened to the Arwen who just gave me a semi permanent scar on my face huh?"

She looked down disappointed and sad. "I was upset about it Tasuki."

He sighed. "Fine what did he do?" she looked up at him a little embarrassed and hesitant.

"That ae took advantage… Smooth talked you into it huh?"

"I guess so. But then I made him stop a minute later. Knowing that…you wouldn't like it if…"

"Well then you know right." He caught her hand and walked her to where she was going to take him in the first place. "How could you let him kiss you Ari? Hell you wouldn't allow me to."

"I was thinking about something else to realize it in the beginning Tasuki. He has been coming onto me a lot lately since Valentines."

"Not anymore he won't. Stay here. And don't move till I come back." he opened the door to the basketball court and went in.

"Jimmy! I need to have a word with you right now!"

"SO!"

"I made it quick, no worries." Tasuki smiled satisfied as he relaxed on his couch.

"Are you out of your mind!" Hori exclaimed.

"Look she told me he'd been bothering her for too long. About time he stopped." He replied stifling a yawn.

"So you punch the guy and think that's the end of it." Taka smiled amused.

"Well. Yeah."

"What's going on between the two of you anyway?" his tone filled with suspicion.

"Nothing. She wanted help and I was glad to help her out. That's all. Look, this guy 'Jimmy' won't bother her anymore. That's all that matters to me. Wouldn't you help her out?"

"Not by punching the daylights out of him. No." Hori nodded trying to figure out if he was coming to the right conclusions about the situation.

"What would you do Hori? If you had a fight with Anya and seeing the time that she was upset he took his chance to get her with him. And kisses her?"

"The hell he did that? I thought he was just bothering her by asking her out." Taka was surprised, Tasuki nodded. Hori was surprised as well.

"Then my friend." Hori grinned. "I wouldn't have stopped with just one punch."

Good. I can expect something as planned soon enough I think. But I need something to bring out the feeling. Something big.

"Don't tell Julian about this though. He might just end up stitching the guys mouth with his tool ya know." Hori laughed even more as he tried to imagine.

"Will he now? Not before I murder the guy for laying a finger on one of my friends when I wasn't around." Tasuki chose his words carefully so he wouldn't make Taka suspicious beyond need.

This is just a passing phase people… Kindly adjust… but much better stuff to come if you know what I mean…. The stuff I like…. The physics, the chemistry and the math of matters….

Sorry for not updating, have been, am and will be busy for a while… kindly pardon… please let me know what you think…

Oh… and if I've ever said anything offensive, pardon a simple mind's owner who can't keep big mouth shut…O;;;

Domo…