The Three-Way

Chapter 5

By KellyQ

The rest of the day passed uneventfully for Yuma and his cousin. They went home with no homework, and that gave Yuma time to think more about what took place at school. He wanted to be friends with Kaito and Ryoga. The question is how, Yuma thought. He was in the attic lying comfortably in his hammock, trying to figure out how he was going to make friends with those two. I'll have to ask Tori if she has any classes with Shark, Yuma thought.

"That's it!"

Yuma jumped out of the hammock, climbed down the ladder–almost missing a couple of steps in the process. His school bag sat right there. Yuma opened it up and dumped out the contents. A health book, one comic book, cookie crumbs, and a crumbled up paper lunch bag. However, no D-gazer.

"What are you looking for?" Astral asked, walking up.

"My D-gazer. I want to call Tori and ask her if she has any classes with him." Yuma took his bag again, turned it upside down, and shook it.

" 'Him'?" Astral repeated seeing his cousin's shoulders droop. "Are you talking about Shark?" Yuma sighed. "Have you tried your back pocket?"

Yuma blinked a few times. He reached into his back pocket and felt what he was looking for. Yuma pulled out his D-gazer and placed it over his earlobe. He placed the glass part over his eyes, and pressed a few buttons. Yuma waited for a good moment until a holographic computer window appeared. Tori did not look pleased that she was interrupted.

"Yuma…?"

He chuckled nervously. "Hey, Tori. Is Shark in one of your classes?"

Tori frowned. "Yes. Why?"

Yuma laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head. "No reason …"

Tori sighed. "Yuma … you shouldn't get involved with Shark. He's nothing but bad news."

Confusion flashed across Yuma's face. "What's wrong with wanting to be Shark's friend?"

Tori sighed. "He just gets into a lot of trouble, that's why!"'

Yuma frowned, trying to process what all that meant. She must be talking about IV! That thought worried Yuma. "I'm going to help Shark, Tori!"

Astral, who was standing three feet away, raised a brow. "Yuma …"

Tori groaned in annoyance. "Fine. What is it that you want me to do?"

"Nothing really. I just wanted to know because of IV. He seems to like to pick on Shark-"

"Which is all the more the reason to stay away from Shark!" Tori pointed out.

"Yuma … you shouldn't get involved with what's going on with those two," Astral advised. He was standing behind his cousin. "You're going to get hurt."

Yuma sighed. They did have a point, but he had a strong feeling that if Shark was left a lone with IV, something bad was going to happen. "Anyways, thanks, Tori."

The green-haired girl grumbled and closed the holographic window. Yuma plucked the D-gazer off his earlobe and put it in his bag.

"I just don't understand why you guys think it's more important that I don't get hurt. What about Shark? He probably doesn't have any friends," Yuma spoke up. He climbed up the ladder with his cousin following close behind. Yuma heaved himself into the hammock and manage to roll so that he could lay properly in it.

Astral sighed. "I know that you said that he was cute. But why are you so focused on Shark? Do you like him that much?"

Yuma looked away from his cousin and sifted in his hammock so that he was facing the small window. "No. I..I just think it's sad that he doesn't have any friends."

Astral sighed again knowing that Yuma never liked it when people made decisions for him. After a few moments of staring at his cousin, Astral turned and walked over to the ladder. "I'll call you when dinner is ready."

Yuma continued to lie there, staring out the window until Astral called him down. Yuma got out of his hammock and made his way to the kitchen to see that the table was set. He sat down and started to eat.

"You had no homework?" Akari asked. When Yuma and Astral came home after school, she noticed that they didn't sit down in the living room and went to work.

"No. But there's this bully that keeps on picking on Shark during lunch." Their grandmother glanced up with concern. "He also doesn't have any friends which I find sad."

"Is he a classmate of yours?" his grandmother asked.

Yuma looked down. "No. I only see him at lunch."

"I see," his grandmother commented, not liking how her grandson sounded so lost. "Have you tried to talk to him?"

A light blush made it's way to Yuma's cheeks. "I would like too, but Shark doesn't say anything."

"I'm sure you'll think of something to get him to be your friend," his grandmother said, giving her grandson a confident look.

Yuma glanced up and smiled. "Thanks, grandma."

To Be Continued ….