"Ow! Mom stop poking at it!" I cried out in dismay.

That morning, my mother was looking at the damage that was inflicted upon my left eye from the other day. Surprisingly, it wasn't as bad as I believed it to be. The swelling had gone down a great deal, but my face still felt sore and throbbed faintly. My side was basically okay, besides the dull aching as if I was sore from working out.

When my mother saw me this morning, she just looked at me before sighing. Sure to others it might seem weird or cold-hearted that my mother wasn't panicking, trying to rush to my aid while acting motherly; truth is, she was use to these kinds of things. I might have mentioned that I got in little spats once in a great while, but in all honesty, they were a frequent thing. I'm usually a chill guy to hang out with, but I do have a tendency of flying off the handle faster than most. My mother said that I got her short temper, though I can kind of believe that. When my mother is pissed there is a calm, silence about her that makes me uneasy. It's like waiting for a time bomb to go off.

"I wouldn't have to do this if you just stop getting into trouble," my mother replied her eyes on the discolored area on my face. After a moment she pulled away and straighten up, adjusting her apron. "Well it's not bad, if anything you can cover it up with some make-up."

"I wasn't looking for trouble if that's what you mean," I mumbled, "I couldn't stand by and let those jerks do what they wanted."

I put a new frozen pack of peas on to my eye again in hopes it would bring the swelling down some more. I was dressed in my school uniform as I had to be at school in thirty minutes but it have not been decided if I should go or not. I've told my mother about what had happen in the alleyway with Panty Flasher and the two wannabe thugs, Gap and Beanie. Of course those weren't their names but to save time I just went with it. Not like I was going to ask their names in a middle of a fight.

"I know, son. But it doesn't do you any good taking a beating instead. Hell, that's why I paid all that money; so you could attend those Taekwondo lessons as a kid."

"Yeah, I know mom. I just… Wasn't thinking about it at the time." I sounded stupid when I said I basically forgot how to defend myself, but there was no comment about it.

"I swear you are just like your father. You act before you even think about things-."

"Always rushing in like a fool," I finished for her. She looked at me and silence blanketed around us.

My father, Hayden Soto, died in some kind of freak accident. I was five when a police officer came to our door and gave the bad news. Being too young I didn't fully understand, not even at the funeral. It took my mother telling me that my father wasn't coming back, and wouldn't read me bedtime stories anymore before I started to cry. Over a damn story. Stupid right? I've been told many times how I was like my father. Though I had a temper, my dad was a caring man, always wanting to help others. I just can't stand watching assholes pick on the weak. Though me and my father might have had some different views on things, I suppose we both shared a common interest in helping out others; and as corny as it sounded I felt closer to him that way.

"Would you like something to eat before you leave?" My mom broke the silence. I blinked, snapping out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"I asked you if you wanted anything to eat before going to school," my mother repeated herself, eyeing me with her teal colored eyes, the same as my own. I nodded my head, figuring by the time I do get to school, I'll only have a few minutes to get to class.

"Yeah, thanks, mom."

"No worries, honey," she said with a small smile, before going to cook me a quick breakfast…

The walk to school was rather peaceful and since I tend to make the journey to school on my own, I didn't have to be subconscious about the ugliness of my eye. It didn't bother me, in fact the swelling was close to being fully gone. It was the black and purple coloring that remained. My mother had offered to apply foundation to at least hide my black eye, but I refused. Besides, I had P.E so I would just end up sweating the makeup off anyways. Luckily enough my bangs were long enough to cover my eyes. To say I had long bangs only proves that I needed to get a haircut soon. I didn't really care or pay attention, but my head had been looking like more of a black jungle of some sort. It certainly wouldn't be surprising if a monkey popped out from my hair out of nowhere one day. Okay that's a lie, I would freak out completely if that happened.

The other night I had a dream of Rias Gremory, sitting on my lap and caressing my cheek, telling me to get stronger. What confused me even more, was that she called me her pawn. The hell? Did I have some kind of kinky fetish of being the slave of a hot chick or something? I didn't know which was worse, that I might have this weird fetish or even I didn't know I like such a thing. Well I guess I wouldn't mind, Rias was one-hundred percent sexy; but then again she may look hot but what if she was some kind of sadist who liked torturing people just for fun, and I was to be her slave? I groaned shaking my head. How in the hell did a dream about a beautiful girl on my lap end up with me thinking if she was sadistic or not? "The hell has been going through my head lately?" I asked myself. Normally I wasn't expecting an answer, so you can just guess how surprised I was when there was a voice beside me that spoke up.

"I don't know, but is it okay if I ask?"

I turned my head and a few feet away, was Panty Flasher. I blinked, dumbfounded to be running into her here. Not once have I ever crossed paths with her, in fact I didn't really know who she was. For the first time, even I was able to get a good look at her. She was cute, adorable even. She had long silky brown hair that was in a ponytail, and purple eyes that caught the morning sun's reflection.. She had a small, petite body and it just made her looked even cuter with her wearing the school uniform. Short skirt, and white blouse that showed off pale, smooth legs and average size chest. Of course, I only looked at her chest for a second before looking up at her face and to my surprise she was smiling.

"Ah, can I help you with something?" I asked trying to be polite.

In reply she giggled in her hand, making me wonder if I said something funny or the wrong thing.

"No, actually… I wanted to thank you for yesterday."

I tilted my head to the side and blinked.

"Yesterday?" I repeated, though I knew fully well what she was talking about. I merely shrugged my shoulders at her, turning my head to look at the horizon.

"It's no big deal, really. Besides I would be a shitty person if I just up and walked off without even bothering to help." Curious, I peeped at her from the corner of my good eye.

"Yeah… That's true," her voice was soft while she looked down.

She startled me for a moment when she suddenly moved in front of me. I gazed into her purple eyes, seeing her determination and it just made her look even more adorable. It took quite a lot not to go 'Aww' and ruffle her hair.

"But you weren't that type of person. You came to help me," she then frown looking at me, "and you got hurt doing so… I-I wanna thank you for saving me, as well as show my gratitude."

Her gratitude? I blinked, staring at her with in wonder. No girl had ever offered to show me her thanks, but then again I never went out of my way looking for damsels in distress. I shook my head; I figured I should do the noble thing. She didn't owe me anything and I wasn't going to encourage her to pay me back for something that was naturally a right thing to do.

"No, it's okay," I started shaking my head slightly," I didn't do anything special so you don't need to pay me back. Your thanks is more than enough-"

"Please go out with me!" Panty Flasher interrupted me.

"Waaahh?!"

My jaw practically hit the ground. My eyes widened with shock as she just up and dropped the question like a bomb. In all honesty, I didn't think that she would just up as ask in such a way like she did. I didn't really take her to be that kind of girl. Panty Flasher was looking at me with those determine violet eyes again with a tinted blush on her cheeks. Cute.

"W-why would you want to date me?" I asked gaining back my composure. All of a sudden I felt self-conscious. Compared to her, I looked like a bum in a school's uniform. Normally I wouldn't give two shits about how I looked, but then again I was being asked out here and I knew one-hundred percent I wasn't the most attractive looking male around.

"I want to show you how grateful I was when you came to save me. If you didn't those terrible men would had…" She shook her head as if not wanting to think about it and personally, I didn't want to either. "Please? It's the only way I know to pay you back."

Now I had two options: Accept her offer and get this over with, that way she can forget about me and we both go on with our lives. Or, decline and make upset her to a point she just sees me as a jerk and hates me while I ended up feeling like scum. I ran these two options in my head for a moment, then looked at her. Instead of giving a simple yes or no answer, I replied with, "But I don't even know your name."

That seem to catch her off guard as well as she blinked before introducing herself. "My name is Aiko Kobayashi. And you are?"

"Ah… Taizen Soto. But you can just call me Tai," I rubbed the back of my head.

She giggled and smiled at me. "Tai… I like that name."

I couldn't help but feel my face get warm. No doubt I was blushing, but I couldn't help it. The way she said my name had me feeling funny on the inside. Maybe I should take her up on her offer, no matter how sudden it was. "So… If you really want to. I wouldn't mind taking you up on that date you offered."

Aiko smiled and nodded, " I would like that."

The two of us ended up walking to school together, discussing the time and place we would have our date. It was going to be this Sunday in the afternoon. She told me we could meet up at the market district and start off from there. In the end I didn't care that I was late for school, because once we got there and we bid one another farewell, Aiko kissed my cheek and left me standing there like an idiot touching the side of my cheek…

Sunday came faster than I would like. When I got to school, I didn't tell Karin or the others about my date with Panty- ah, I mean Aiko. I plan for this to be a trial and error kind of thing, as this was just a date and that was it. It wasn't like I was dating Aiko already.

It was currently three in the afternoon, the wind was a little chilly but other than that it was an immaculate day. I decided to attempt to look like less of a bum that day and wore some of my nicer clothes. I had put on a red shirt, under a light blue button up dress shirt, black jean, and my sneakers that I tried to clean. My hair even looked decent. I didn't get a haircut, but it looked more tamable than usual.

It was a little past three-ten when Aiko decided to show up. She was late, but I knowing I would sound like an ass for pointing it out, I just told her what any other guy would say. "It's fine, I barely got here myself."

She smiled, purple eyes dancing with delight. "I'm glad I didn't keep you waiting," she said sounding relieved.

I couldn't help but notice what she wearing that day. A green cardigan over a white blouse, black leggings under a black shirt and converse long boots. Overall, she just was very pretty.

"Ready to go?" She asked with a smile and I looked at her giving a nod. "Then let's go!"

Without thinking, Aiko reached for my hand and pulled me forward. The action was unexpected, but I didn't complain and merely squeezed her hand softly and followed her lead.

Surprisingly enough, when I talked to her it wasn't awkward like I had thought. There was always something to talk about and I found myself laughing quite often. Since the two of us weren't necessarily hungry, we explored around the place going in and out of shops. In one in particular, I bought her a teddy bear. Cliché, I know, but she looked content with it so in the end I deem it an accomplishment. Every time she would look at me with that sweet smile and I couldn't help but smile back. I found that I was actually enjoying myself...

Sunday had come too quickly for my liking, but it was ending too soon as well. I would grimace every time I checked the time on my phone. It was getting later, which meant my time with Aiko would be over. The sun was setting at this point while we sat on the fountain ledge in a park. It got to the point I had my arm around Aiko while she leaned against me. I was rather content with in this position as we both gazed at the lowering sun.

"Today was fun," I mumbled more to myself than anything, but either way Aiko answered back.

"Yeah, it was fun," She looked at me, a soft blush on her cheeks. "I like being with you, Tai. I never felt this happy before."

I watched as she snuggled more into me, her hand lay softly on top of mine.

"I had fun with you too, Aiko," I admitted softly. "And I came to really like you…"

Saying that made me nervous, though in a sense, it was somewhat of a confession. I was certain she would not return my feelings. After all this was just her way to say thank you.

"I like you too." My eyes slightly widen as I was caught off guard.

"Really?"

Aiko nodded her head and smiled softly at me. "I do… Tai, if it's not too much to ask... Can I be your girlfriend?"

Fuck, how many times was this girl going to catch me off guard like this? One thing at a time please, this was happening too fast. But at the same time I felt happy that she asked. I turned my body to face her and gently moved a strand of hair behind her ear. My heart was pounding but I held my ground.

"I would like that, Aiko. But only if I can do this…" Her face was close enough, so making a bold decision, I leaned in and kissed her softly. Her lips were softer than I expected them to be, but at the same time they were full and firm. I was testing the waters, wondering if she would pull away feeling her tense up. After a second, she relaxed and kissed back with more force than I expected. Her slender fingers slid into my hair and in return I circled my arms around her slim waist, pulling her closer.

This wasn't my first kiss. But it certainly was one of the best...

Hey everyone! Thanks for reading this chapter and the last one. I promise things will pick up soon. Review and tell me what you think, third chapter will be coming real soon!