A/N: Thanks for the reviews. I keep on forgetting to say that: Hey! Check out my website! Hahaha Here it is www(dot)wix(dot)com/hounonotenshi/tenshi Tell me what you guys think about it.

Zmzn: It was fast only because I've already written the chapter one and prologue. I just wanted to publish it in different days.

Zinthos XIII: I know! Well there was also a reason why Mio is 15 and not 16 or 17 or whatever. You'll see why.

Nani: I'm not saying anything more than what I already said in Chapter One. I did not mention any names on my prologue. However, I did confirm that one of them is Ritsu. I neither confirmed nor denied that the other girl was Mio. You'll learn later on who it is. I wonder if it's Mio? Lol Don't worry about the prologue. It will soon unravel as the story goes on. Your questions will be answered too.

Fools Rush In: Where Angels Fear To Tread

Chapter 2

Lovesick: One Step Closer

"We always believe that our first love is our last, and our last love is our first."

"You are everything I never knew I always wanted."

Tainaka Ritsu groaned as the sound of her alarm ringing perturbed her peaceful and much wanted slumber. She had stayed up until three in the morning to finish a due project for later afternoon and it did not help that she was starting to feel sick. Ritsu huddled comfortably under the thin sheets, her eyes closed.

*beep*

Another beeping sound from her phone caused her heavy eyelids to flutter open. It was already eight in the morning and she needed to be at school in nine.

"Mmm… 5 mo' minutes." Ritsu sluggishly slurred to no one, only to shiver when the sheets that was draped upon her body was rudely pulled away. Just as she was about to drift back to sleep, the oblivious Tainaka Ritsu was very well unaware of the intruder in her home.

"Ritsu-senpai!" a female voice erupted from the small girl's mouth. Sounds bounced off throughout the whole master's bedroom. "Wake up!" the black haired girl insisted, shaking Ritsu's dead body in the process.

"Go away." Said Ritsu childishly, battling for the sheets.

"No. You need to get up now." Ritsu slowly opened her eyes to look at the glaring girl. She was about a year younger than Ritsu. Her long silky black hair was tied on one side, emphasizing her small beautiful face.

"Azusa. How did you get in here?" Ritsu asked in a sleepy manner. Ritsu reached to her side, comfortably cuddling on a pillow. Nakano Azusa was one of Ritsu's childhood friends. Despite the fact that the girl was a year younger than the rest of them, Azusa had always looked out for her—as Ritsu had put it, the younger girl liked to meddle in her life.

"Spare key outside your penthouse." The black haired girl stated as a matter-of-factly. The keys were dangling on her right hand. "Under the rag, remember?"

"Oh. Right." Ritsu mumbled. Her enticing amber eyes were hidden behind the half-opened eyelids.

"Ritsu-senpai!" Azusa shouted louder when she saw Ritsu closing her heavy eyelids. "Come on! You need to get up! If you don't get off your bed soon, I'm gonna be late too!"

"…" Azusa sighed when the older girl ignored her. Having her eyes closed, Ritsu was ignorant of the smirk that was slowly forming on the other girl's face. Azusa leaned in slowly, tucking the black locks that escaped behind her ear. "Ricchan, wake up." Azusa whispered hotly at the brunette's ear, mimicking some other girl's voice. She immediately backed away with a grin on her face, satisfied at the effect.

"Azusa! Stop doing that!" Ritsu glared at her chuckling kouhai. "You! Are not allowed to do that to me. EVER." Azusa continued to giggle while Ritsu grabbed her beet red ear.

"I know I'm not. But well, it worked. You're up now!" Azusa beamed, pulling Ritsu's left arm. "Now, please. Get out of the bed and get ready for school."

"Yes, mother." Ritsu grumbled humorously but rather obeyed the younger girl easily this time. "You didn't need to come pick me up." Ritsu looked at Azusa before entering to the bathroom. Ritsu took note of what the younger girl was wearing. Azusa was wearing a white D&G long sleeved shirt with a matching dress pants and high heels. Ritsu smirked. After all those years, the black haired girl grew no more than ten centimetres.

"I've known you for as long as I remember, senpai. That is why I agreed to Yui."

"Hmmmm?" Ritsu peeked from the bathroom door with a toothbrush on hand. "About what?" she finished before disappearing inside the en suite.

"That I go make sure you're up and about for school, especially after how you looked like yesterday." Azusa paused, looking at the lone digital picture frame on the room. The frame mostly showed Ritsu on her younger days. Azusa laughed at the picture that showed a chibi Ritsu grinning at the camera with her younger brother on the background. The Tainaka siblings were holding out cardboard swords. The next picture shown was when they were in college. Azusa saw herself with a certain Hirasawa Yui clinging on to her back. With them are Ritsu and their other childhood friend. Mugi senpai. The four were standing just in front of Todai.

"Maybe I should stay home today?" Ritsu asked hopefully, exiting the bathroom. Maybe the brunette could sneak in an early holiday?

"Huh? What are you talking about? You just started working in there." Azusa looked at Ritsu who was now fully dressed and ready to leave. The brunette was wearing a white FCUK shirt under a yellow cardigan that was rolled up until her elbows. Azusa could not help but laugh at how clumsily Ritsu had her hair tied up. "Come one. Stop being lazy."

"I really hate this." Ritsu sighed as she walked out of her apartment. "I should really get back at Yui for this." She mumbled under her breath.

"What was that Ritsu?" Azusa asked.

Ritsu grumbled. "Nothing. I take it I'm dropping you off all the way to the laboratory?"

"Of course! I went to the trouble of waking you up, didn't I? Maybe you should pick me up after work too." Ritsu shook her head before sighing in defeat. How did the great Tainaka-sama ended up so whipped? And don't forget the fact that Nakano Azusa was not even her girlfriend.

Sigh. Maybe I should get a real girlfriend?

"No worries if you suck at drawing. The thing I am grading is your skill and ability to tone—" Ritsu's speech was interrupted when the school bell rang, indicating the end of class. "Well, you heard the bell." Students started to pack up. "Don't forget that this toning assignment will be due in a week. You may all go now." Ritsu finished, walking out of the classroom of 1-2 with a heavy sigh. The new teacher was more than glad that school's over.

"Let's go to the club." Emi walked over to her packing friends, Mio and Yuko.

"Let's." Yuko answered before stopping. "Oh, hey. Did you notice Tainaka sensei was kind of out today?" Yuko asked her childhood friends. The new teacher, Tainaka Ritsu, started teaching the day before yesterday. Ritsu was beaming with energy during her first two days, even playing with her students during breaks. But today, the teacher seemed to be off.

"I know." Emi agreed. "It's like her energy was drained or something." The three started to walk through the quiet halls of Sakuragoaka towards their clubroom.

"Maybe she has some problems or something." Mio muttered quietly.

"Or," Yuko stated, "she's coming down with a cold. It's been raining non-stop since Tuesday. Good thing it's already Friday."

"Or maybe." Yuko paused. "She got dumped by a girl?" there was a moment of silence before Yuko and Emi laughed together.

"Yeah right. Have you seen Sensei closely?"

"I know! I bet she's dumped a lot of girls already." Yuko agreed at Emi's unvoiced opinion. Would you believe that the teacher got a love confession merely after a day teaching at their school? Crazy. Just crazy.

"What's wrong, Mio?" Yuko asked when she realised that Mio had stopped on her tracks. Mio was looking down in deep thought.

"Mio-chan?" Emi waved a hand in front of the trance Mio. "M-i-o-chan!"

"Eh?" Mio snapped out of her daze. "It's nothing. Let's go." Mio insisted, opening the door to their clubroom. Emi and Yuko shrugged at the absent-mindedness of their friend.

I hope sensei's not catching a cold.

Each step, her heart started to pound nervously. Immediately after their club activities were over, Akiyama Mio found herself in front of a certain Graphics teacher's small office. The obsidian haired student took a deep breath as she placed her hand over that doorknob, exhaling as she opened the hugged door slowly. Scanning the neatly arranged room, Mio found her teacher writing on the small white board.

"Se-sensei." Mio mumbled softly. Ritsu continued to write with her back faced towards the meek student. Mio cleared her throat and called out for her teacher louder this time. "Tainaka sensei?"

Ritsu turned around after the call. "Akiyama-san? What's wrong?" Ritsu asked Mio, placing the black whiteboard marker on her desk.

Ritsu raised an amused eyebrow as her student stared at her silently. "Akiyama-san?" Ritsu cannot help but smirk after her voice went unheard. She slowly walked up towards the obsidian haired student and leaned closer. "M-i-o-chan." She playfully whispered at her student's ear.

"Eh?" Mio snapped out of her trance. Blush slowly crept up to her face when she realised the distance between her and the Graphics teacher. She jerked back only for her back to find the wall. Their faces were merely inches away, causing Mio to go through five deeper shades of red.

Ritsu laughed at her student's behaviour before backing away. "Are you okay? Did you need something?"

Sensei's breathe was so hot.

"What's that?" Ritsu asked when she heard Mio mumbled to herself.

"I-I ah—" Mio paused before rummaging through her bag. "Here. These are the forms you were asking for." Mio shoved the stacked papers to her teacher's chest.

"Oh. You should've just waited until Monday. I don't need it 'till Tuesday anyways." Ritsu said after chuckling at her nervous student. Kawaii. Ritsu thought as Mio continued to blush.

In all honesty, Mio was well aware that the teacher did not need the forms until next week. In fact, Ritsu had asked the papers on Monday. But after the talk with her friends about Ritsu before, Mio could not help but get worried.

"I-I just wanted to finish it today. So. Yeah…" Mio found the floor interesting when she heard her teacher freely chuckled. Fighting the urge to look back, Mio was in awe at the sight of her teacher. It was the first time today that Mio had seen the teacher laugh. Mio sighed in relief. What? I think she's fine. Having me worried and all. Mou. Hehe. It's really nice seeing her happy— Mio's thoughts were interrupted when she realized that the teacher had stopped laughing, and instead was grinning at her. "Wha-what is it?" She asked cautiously.

Ritsu shook her head, smile still on her face. "Nothing. Did someone tell you that you're interesting?" Ritsu turned away from Mio. The brunette closed the laptop on her desk before placing it inside a black backpack. "Anyway, did your activities just finished now?" Mio nodded at her teacher's questions. "I see. Going home?"

"Yes." Mio replied meekly.

"Let's go. I'll give you a ride home as a thank you for the papers." Ritsu smiled before pushing the student out of her office.

"Eh? But—"

"No buts!"

The two walked through the quiet halls of Sakuragaoka. Students and most of the teachers had already gone home. Every now and then, Mio would glance sideways to her teacher, observing Ritsu intently. The younger girl took note of how firm and yet feminine Ritsu's body was. Mio mused at her teacher's height, her face, the way her teacher dressed. But the feature that stood out the most was her teacher's alluring amber eyes.

Mio felt her face warm up yet again when Ritsu opened the door for her. She felt the hot air radiating from her teacher. Hot? The two stopped in front of the stunning silver BMW Z4. Mio gaped in astonishment at the sight of the luxurious car.

"Let's go?" Ritsu opened the passenger's door for Mio. The student nodded before brushing with Ritsu as she got in the car.

"Sorry." Mio apologized when Ritsu slightly stumbled, leaning against the car for support. "Sensei? Are you okay?" Mio asked worriedly as she stepped out of the car. "You're flushed."

"Hehe. Sorry. I'm fine. I just feel a little…" Ritsu trailed off as her body slowly slide down. "Woozy."

"Sensei!" Mio leaned forward to catch her teacher, avoiding Ritsu to fall face first at the hard pavement. "You're burning." Mio stood up as she struggled to support the much taller girl's weight.

"Sorry." Ritsu mumbled, her face was resting on the nook of Mio's neck.

Mio could not help another blush coming when she felt the hot air caressing her neck. She bit her lip to prevent any unnecessary and inappropriate sounds from coming out of her mouth. "Sensei, stay here for a minute. I'll go get the school doctor." Mio assisted Ritsu inside her car. Mio was about to leave when she felt a hand gripped her right wrist. She turned around to see a flushed Ritsu looking up at her. "Sensei?"

"The doctor's not here at this time anymore." Ritsu said softly. Her breathing was getting harder and harder by the second. "Just call me a cab."

"But—"

"I'll be as good as new once I get a rest at home." Ritsu forced a smile to ease the worried student.

Mio nodded slowly. "Okay. But what about your car?"

"Thank you. I'll just have my friend bring it over tomorrow." Ritsu mumbled as she closed her tired eyes.

"..sei."

"..aka-sensei."

"Tainaka-sensei." Ritsu stirred awake by the shaking. She slowly opened her heavy eyes to find a worried Mio looking at her.

"Huh?"

"We're inside the building now." Mio answered behind amusement. The teacher was slumped beside her, half-conscious.

"Oh. Thanks."

"What floor are you?"

"Top." Ritsu answered curtly as Mio ushered her inside the elevator. Mio fidgeted uncomfortably under her teacher. Mio swore that if any of her classmates known of this event, she would never have a quiet year at school. Ritsu had been around the school for a few days only, and yet, the teacher unexpectedly or expectedly got along with the students.

*ding*

The elevator door opened as the two reached the top floor of the building. Mio looked left and right to decide which direction was the way to her teacher's apartment. She mused when she realised that there was only one door in the whole top floor.

"Sensei." Mio called her teacher softly, not wanting to startle her. "Where's you key?"

"Unggghh? Pocket."

"Eh?" Mio shouted in shock making Ritsu wince. She accompanied her teacher all the way to Ritsu's home, blushing numerously whenever Ritsu would unconsciously cuddle near her. And now the brunette want her to fish the keys from her pocket? There's only so many times a young 15-year-old high school girl could take all the blushing. "Fine." Mio grumbled with closed eyes as she tried to look for the keys on her teacher's pocket. Mio sighed in relief after a few seconds of rummaging thtough her teacher's jean pocket.

"Whoa." Mio gaped in astonishment as both of them entered the luxurious penthouse. "Ah. Sorry." Mio apologized when she heard Ritsu groaned in tiredness.

"Just where is it." Mio grumbled to herself as she found all of the opened cabinets empty. "Doesn't she eat?" Mio mumbled to herself more before walking towards the pantry. To say that Mio was surprised was an understatement. Inside the large pantry was nothing but packed instant noodles of different flavours. "She only eats this? Mou." Mio grabbed the boiler she saw before and began to boiled some water for the instant noodles. She was observing the room when she heard the phone ringing.

"Uuuuu. Am I supposed to answer this?" Mio asked herself as she looked at her teacher's home phone. The phone stopped ringing after a while. She was about to walk back into the kitchen when the phone started to ring again. Thinking that it was something important, Mio answered the call.

"Ricchan! Look I—"

"Sorry! But I-ah." She has a nice voice.

"Huh? You're not Ricchan." The voice at the other end of the line said in slight disappointment.

"Sorry. She's actually sleeping right now. She caught a fever."

"Oh. Is she-is Ricchan all right?"

"She's resting right now."

"Sigh. Good. That's good. Well then Uhm—"

"Akiyama desu."

"Akiyama-san, are you Ricchan's…" the girl on the line trailed.

"Eh? No! No. No. I'm just. Ah. I'm her student and I just happened to be there when she aahm." Mio answered defensively.

"Student? I see. Thank you for taking care of Ricchan." Mio swore she heard a relieved sigh from the girl before hearing another voice at the end of the line. She assumed that the other person was calling the girl she was talking to. "I'm sorry but I have to go now. Please just tell her that I called."

"Okay. Uhm. May I know who's this?"

"I'm he—just tell her a friend called. Thank you." The girl hung up, just in time when Mio heard the water finished.

"I wonder who that is." Mio asked nobody as she poured the steaming hot water into the instant cup. "Maybe she's sensei's… No, no." Mio shook her head. "But she looked relieved when I told her I was sensei's student."

"Don't leave." Mio stopped in her tracks after hearing the soft hoarse voice of her teacher. She was about to leave after making sure Ritsu had drank medicine after eating.

"Please don't leave me." Ritsu mumbled yet again as her hands reached towards Mio. Mio's eyes softened when she saw the troubled look on Ritsu's sleeping face.

"Are you awake?" Mio tiptoed towards the side of the bed.

"I don't want you to leave."

"Shhh. It's okay. I'm not leaving." Mio assured the sleeping brunette as she wiped off some of her teacher's sweat.

"I don't want to be alone." Mio froze after hearing this. She looked around the room and thought back when she first entered the apartment. She did not see anyone else inside. Has her teacher been living alone at this spacious apartment?

Mio looked back at Ritsu before murmuring. "I'm here. You won't be alone."Mio leaned closer to the panting Ritsu's face. Mio' eyes spotted Ritsu's slightly opened mouth. Mio gulped audibly as she leaned closer.

Just what am I doing.

Her eyes closed slowly as she altogether close the gap between her and the sleeping Graphic teacher.

CHARACTER PROFILE II

Name: Akiyama Mio秋山 澪,,

Birthday: January 15

Age: 15

Height: 160 cm

Blood Type: A

Occupation: First year high school student

Character traits: Shy, gets excellent grades in school, strict, gets embarrassed easily, and cowers at any scary or painful stories.

Other Info: Childhood friends with Kawana Yuko and Tejima Emi

A/N: This sucks. hahaha. I'm not really good at slow paced stories. I'm trying my best though! please R&R and don't forget to visit my website! Oh and there's a poll on my profile if you haven't voted yet.