Sorry for the long breaks between updates, I honestly don't know where this story is going either plot wise and been mostly freestyling. Enjoy!

The next day in class, he was half expecting for her to not show up. But she did with five minutes to spare. Not that tardiness was a big deal anymore in college and most students skipped lecture days.

She sat in the same spot she always sat, next to him. It was both settling and unsettling. Like nothing was different.

"Feeling better?"

"Yeah." She was definitely perkier then yesterday. Which made it even more suspicious.

Maybe she was feigning.

Advanced literature, the only class they share together without Shuuichi. It was usually a class full of heavy reading, followed by long papers of analyzing.

"I'm sure you had a lot of time to get caught up."

"Uh, yeah...what were we reading again?"

He sighed. "Les Miserables by Victor Hugo."
"I saw the play once, I should be alright."

"It's not the same thing!"

"Relax, I'm kidding. I actually read that book when I was still in secondary school."

He felt himself mentally sigh this time. He didn't like the way that Momo had the same sense of humor as Shuichi. They both made sport of tormenting him with these gimmicks.

Yet...he couldn't resist asking her.

"Are you busy tonight?"

"Hmm?"

"Study...I mean, do you want to have another study session tonight?"

"Oh. That probably won't be a good idea..." She started to mumble as she anxiously grabbed the back of her neck, something he's noticed since becoming close classmates.

"It's not going to rain tonight." He assured her.

"Damn, I bought my own umbrella this time."

She's already taking countermeasures. This isn't good. Not that he was planning anything besides studying but it was not looking good.

"Video games?"

"What?"

"You play video games, right?" Now I'm gasping for straws...

"Yeah," she laughed nervously. "You remember that, don't you?"

Flashbacks of Gamemaster flooded his mind. Not his best moments.

"I don't know how I would ever forget. But it seems role-playing games are becoming more popular then arcade games these days."

"Oh yeah? You finally buy one of those playstation systems?"

"I did, I have the new Final Fantasy too. I wouldn't mind if you came over and help me play."

"Isn't it one player?"

"We can take turns, the battle system is challenging."

"I'll think about it."

I'm really grasping for straws...

Lunchtime.

The cafeteria on the campus was actually decent and popular.. And he didn't find himself eating alone most of the time. Usually it was with Shuichi but he had afternoon classes today so he won't be showing up till after the lunch hour.

I wonder what he does with most of his free time. Unlike him, Shuichi wasn't heavy on his class schedule. He choose to take the bare minimal. He was curious though what he did with his free mornings, so he asked Momo once knowing she probably knew. Only to get this answer: "He's probably sleeping still." Apparently Shuichi liked to sleep in...a lot.

But he also heard that Shuichi was taking over his stepfather's business and wasn't really focused heavily on college at the moment.

"So the curry?" He looked at his classmate's choice. He had gone with the tempura udon.

"The curry's good here! And it's cheap."

"Better then what Shuichi can make?"

"No..."

Somehow he got the impression that Shuichi was the one that did most of the cooking when he was with Momo.

"Home-made curry is always better but I do like the food here."

"Yeah, I always heard Todai had the best cafeteria."

"Hey..." she looked past him and pointed. "Don't we know that guy?"

Kaitou turned around and looked. He adjusted his glasses just to make sure. "It appears so..."

"Well, well, if it isn't glasses and blondie. What's up?" It was too late, they were already spotted.

"Long time, no see Kuwabara." Momo greeted him. "What brings you here?"
"You haven't heard?" He sat down next to her. "I'm taking the entrance exams for Todai for next year."
"Seriously?" Kaitou gasped. "You know, it's very competitive."

"That's why I have been cramming for the last couple of years. You think these bruises are from fights?"

"They sure look like you got in to a fight..."

"Wrong, they are from Shizuru."

Same old, same old.

"Anyways, I'm surprised Kurama didn't say anything to you two. Especially you," he side-glanced at Momo. "You're practically joined at the hip. Where is he by the way?"

"He has afternoon classes, so he's probably still sleeping."

"Really? Damn, that guy sleeps a lot. At least he doesn't have to commute anymore."

Commute? But he didn't live that far...in fact the way Kaitou remembered it was that Shuichi lived in the same area as Momo. And it wasn't that far.

"Yeah..." Yet Momo was sensing the confusion on Kaitou's face. "Kaitou doesn't know."

"Shuichi is staying with you, isn't he?" It finally click. He was there last night to cook dinner like it was normal.

"Kurama's parents decided they wanted to move to a bigger house a few months ago, but it was a farther commute. So we offered him one of our spare rooms."

"Isn't your dad moving out too?" Kuwabara asked with a sly grin.

"He's just moved in with his mother, since she's old now and needs someone to take care of her."

"Wow, so you two have the whole house to yourselves."

"Yup."

"Lucky, and here I can barely get time with Yukina alone."

Well that explains a lot actually...He tried not to let the look of shock show on his face.

"Isn't she staying at your house now, as a homestay?"

"Yeah, but Shizuru is always there and I'm always studying."

"Am I wrong to assume that marriage is in the future for you two?" Kaitou blurted out but to who the question was directed to, it was unclear.

"Of course it would! Why wouldn't it be? But first I plan to finish college before I marry Yukina. I'm sure Kurama and Momo would be married before we are. They are already living together on their own without any disruptions after all."

"Hey, at least you are more likely to be marry before Yusuke and Keiko. When did he promise to marry her?"

"One of these days, when he's not going off to Demon World all the time."

This conversation is beyond my scope.

"Anyways, about the entrance exams, I heard they are opening admission to the eighth percentile." Kaitou changed the subject hoping they can get off this talk of marriage.

"That's somewhat reassuring. What rank did you score when you were admitted?"

"Nighty-second." Not my best, I think Shuichi scored in the ninety-eighth.

"Is that how percentiles work? The higher the better, I thought they were really scraping the
bottom of the barrel when I passed." Momo blurted out.

"Jeez, you must be bad at math."
"What did you get then?" Kaitou sighed out. It can't be any better then me if she's this bad at numbers.

"Ninety-fourth."

Nevermind.

"You scored that well and didn't even notice?"

"All I saw was the admittance letter. Didn't really care how high I scored honestly."

"Hmm." Kaitou sighed. This woman.

"I'm sure your parents coming here helped." Kuwabara injected. "Anyways I better be going."

"You don't want to grab lunch and eat with us?" Momo asked.

"The cafeteria is only reserved for students and faculty..." Kaitou reminded. They won't even let people buy anything without showing a student ID...

"Bother that, I'll just go with him and buy whatever he wants for him."

"You'ld do that?!"

"Yup! Let's go." She dragged Kuwabara to the lunch line.

"Sweet!"

Kaitou huffed as he realized he was left alone at the table with two trays of food.

After they said goodbye to Kuwabara and finished their lunches, he found himself unintentionally escorting Momo to her next class. Which was only across the hall from his.

It was amazing how they were both going for similar majors yet their class schedules were all over the place.

"What made you consider a degree in English literature anyways? Is it because of your parents?" He asked remembering some details he had picked up about her but never really considered until now. Both of her parents were notable English professors in their days.

"Yeah, sorta. It made sense for now until I can decide what I really want to do."

"You're not doing it because your parents wanted you to? That's how most people seem to do it around here, keeping it in the family."

"Nah, he was excited I picked the major but I'm sure he would understand if I wanted to pursue something else."

They were almost outside their classrooms.

"Oops," Momo had dropped her books on the floor.

She's always clumsy...

"I got it," Kaitou had bend down to help her.

"No, it's okay!" She was already picking up her things. Both of them reached out to grab the last book when his hand brushed against hers.

Uh-oh...

Again, everything seemed to stopped. His territory was activated in a flash, with no warning, just like before.

She had froze up too, feeling the push. She stared at him but he made no eye contact with her.

I can't believe this is happening again! At a place like this.

They stayed bent down over Momo's thing for way too long. Students passed in the hallway besides them chattering, with their souls still intact.

"Kaitou..." Momo whispered, daring to speak. But realizing that passing students in the hallway were safe, she can risk it.

"Um.."

This is embarrassing.

"Stand up." Momo had already finished grabbing her things and was towering over him. She didn't risk touching him but she was realizing she might have no choice. She tugged on his arm and was able to bring him back to his feet.

This is bad, Class starts in like five minutes! Not knowing what to do she pulled Kaitou away from the crowded hallway. No one seemed to be in the study hall. She dragged him in and closed the door.

"You need to fix this now." She tried to convey to him in the least possible amount of words that she can without risking saying a taboo word.

"I'm sorry, I couldn't help it..." I still can't. I don't know how to take down the territory when it's like this.

"Am I the taboo again?" She seemed to have guessed it without him telling her. His lack of silence only confirmed it. "Oh, dammit Kaitou! I can't keep kissing you when this happens."

He didn't know how to respond to that...

"You really need to get a handle of this."
"You think I haven't tried? It's really hard to get a handle when she is constantly in my face."
"So, it's true what you said the other night, you do have feelings for me?"

"It's not like it matters, you're permanently attached to Shuuichi. I've never stood a chance."
"Stop that!" She shook him gently but touching him wasn't helping. The effects of the territory was still up.

"It's the truth!" He shouted, all flustered. "Anyways we have to get to class. Let's go Mo-"
She grabbed him by the collar and pulled him towards her. His lips were on hers again. She cut it short when she saw the look he was giving her. "You were going to say the taboo..."

"And that was your best defense?"

"I had to think quick. I didn't feel like dragging your lifeless body to Genkai's today." He just stared at her blankly. "It worked, didn't it? Your territory is gone."

I would have felt better if you just slapped me...

"I'm leaving..." he opened the door and left her there. This is bad.

Very bad.