A/N : Sorry for the long wait~. I've had writer's block on this story for a while now, as well as exams to complete and study for. xD;

Also, apologies that this is a rather short chapter; I wanted to save the action for the next one. x3

And on with the chapter~.

-x-

So who would have guessed it? We found out the next day that she'd said yes to that annoying little brat. Whether that was a heart-felt acceptance or not, I'll probably never know. But I doubted it.

I mean, honestly, who are we talking about here?

Right, Tohru Honda.

The girl who's too nice for her own good, so much so that she'll do pretty much anything upon request – within reason – whether she likes it or not. My guess is that she didn't have the heart to turn him down.

It figures.

"So, what's his name?" Uotani asked Yuki, trying to keep her cool.

"Nakaoji Yamamoto. He recently moved here due to family issues and is in our class." Yuki replied, obviously pissed at the guy.

"What, do you have a record on him or something?" I muttered. "Kid must be quiet. I've never seen him before in my life."

"Or maybe you've just never taken notice of some of the other students," came the reply. "As for me, it's not really something I can dismiss easily, being on the school council and all."

"Yeah, whatever," I dropped the subject. The thought of this Nakaoji guy made me feel sick.

Then Tohru came bounding out of the class room as we were all walking down the corridor. "S-Sorry to keep you all waiting! I couldn't find one of my books. Turns out it was in my bag anyway," she smiled awkwardly. I could tell something was up by the overly-cheery tone of her voice, but fought the urge to bring the subject to light in front of the others. I'm pretty sure they all felt the same way, especially what with Hanajima and her electric waves of death… I shuddered.

"Don't worry about it," Uotani put on a fake smile to keep Tohru happy. Then she noticed something. "Hey, Tohru… Why're your eyes all red like that?"

"Huh?" I spun around to face her, and saw Arisa was right. It looked as though Tohru had been—

"Have you been crying, Honda-san?" Yuki asked, concern washing over his face.

Tohru blinked. "H-Huh? Um, no! No, of course not!" She smiled unconvincingly.

"Right," I grunted. "And I'm actually Johnny Depp in disguise."

Yuki nudged me in the ribs.

I winced at the dull pain. "OW! Damn it, you rat!"

"Please don't fight, you two!" Tohru pleaded.

The two of us dropped our hands to our sides and muttered and apology like a pair of little kids who just got caught drawing on the walls with wax crayons.

"Hey, Tohru," a smirk was pasted on that damn guy's face. He put his arm around Tohru's waist, making her both stiffen and blush in surprise.

"N-Nakaoji-kun!" She exclaimed.

Great. Just, great.

I ceased the curses spinning around my mind for a moment and paused to think – Tohru's eyes were still puffy and red from when she must've been crying. "Nakaoji." After saying his name with a monotone voice, I looked at him with narrowed eyes.

He furrowed his brow in slight distaste at being referred to without an honorific. Oh, now I really felt rebellious…For the sake of my sanity, note the sarcasm there.

"What is it, short-stack?" Nakaoji said, looking like he was holding back a glare.

I scoffed at his petty insult. "Short-stack? Hell, you're taller than me by one measly inch, if that. Don't get cocky. I'll knock your lights out – without mercy, bastard."

Now it looked like he was really getting a kick out of this. Damn that smug son of a—

"You want to battle it out right here, right now? Or are you shaking in your petit little boots, sweetheart?"

The sight of the stupid smirk on his stupid twisted little face made my blood boil.

Before I knew it, I'd balled my hands into fists and was fighting back the urge to sucker-punch him. Besides, I needed no explanation. Even a blind man could see that he was the one who made an innocent girl – my innocent girl – sniffle and cry. And I hated that he seemed to enjoy both my anger and Tohru's sadness, for whatever reason she may be that way.

I could feel my nails digging into my fists before I raised it to my head and was about to flatten Nakaoji's jaw, when something held me back. Yuki's arms imprisoned mine, giving me no chance of escape no matter how much I kicked and protested. He muttered darkly in my ear, so low than none of the others could overhear him, "Look at her, Kyo. Look at her face. She doesn't want you to get hurt. You're the only one in her eyes. Don't break her heart even more than it's already shattered."

I relaxed at his words, knowing my efforts to get away were quickly being wasted, when the guilt washed over me. I stole a glance at Tohru, whose face was filled with worry, confusion and hurt.

I knew she didn't love him.

But he had no right to push her around like that.

Then…why do I feel so over-protective of her?

Oh.

That's right.

I love her.

Me.

Not some obnoxious freak that thinks he can do what he wants, when he wants.

But, for now, I have to hold back my vengeance.

Not because I want to.

…But because of her.

I can't let her down.

She's all I've ever had.

…My everything.