CR: I apologize for the late update! Just a few hours ago, I was nearly involved in an accident and thank god my father braked in time, otherwise I might be in hospital. However, the sudden brake thrown me forward and my head hit the hard part of the car seat and the impact made my glasses fly off. My left eye is also slightly injured and I can't see very well out of my left eye now. I am still in shock over the accident. It involved three cars and the accident happen just right in front of us. Thank god for my father's quick reaction, otherwise there will be a fourth car involved. Ok, ok, back to the story!

"…And that's what happened." said Ryoma, eating the bento given to him by Shizuka. He and Shizuka were having lunch together at the rooftop. Well, ok, only Ryoma is having lunch. Shizuka was drinking her grape Snapple. Shizuka sipped her drink delicately. "Not a very good liar, are you, Ryoma?" said Shizuka, grinning. Ryoma shook his head. "Nope, that's what you are good at, not me." Ryoma was telling about how he nearly revealed his secret to his senpais this morning. Shizuka listened, half-amused, half-worried.

"Well, you'd better watch your words from now on Ryoma, otherwise our secret will be exposed and God knows what will happen to us!" said Shizuka, drinking her Snapple. She offered her Snapple to Ryoma. "Want some?" Ryoma accepted it with a "Thanks" and started sipping Shizuka's Snapple. Just then, the door opened and a girl with long braids walked in. "Ah…Ryoma-kun….M-m-may I t-talk to you for a moment?" said the girl. Shizuka recognized the girl as her classmate Ryuzaki Sakuno. She has an obvious crush on Ryoma but he had his sights set on someone else. "Sure. What about?" said Ryoma.

"Er….I-I was hoping to talk to you alone." said Sakuno. Apparently what she wanted to talk about is not for Shizuka's ears. Shizuka suspected she was going to confess to him.

"Fat chance, Ryuzaki. Either say it now, or me and Shizuka are leaving!" Shizuka knew by his tone he was serious.

"B-b-but, Ryoma-kun."

"Look, girl, if you want to say something, spit it out!" said Shizuka lazily. "If you have nothing, just go away!" Sakuno glared at her and Shizuka stared back, a smirk gracing her pink lips. Sakuno knew by the look on her face, she was issuing her a challenge. She turned back to Ryoma, and when she looked into his golden cat-like eyes, she blushed. "Er….Ryoma-kun…..I….I love you, please go out with me!" Shizuka's smile dropped, but on the inside, she was laughing. 'Hah! I knew it!' she thought. Ryoma looked at her coldly and said, "Is that all?" she shyly nodded. Ryoma handed Shizuka back her Snapple and said, "As far as I applaud you for your courage, Ryuzaki, I am afraid I have to say no." Ryuzaki looked up sharply. "Eh….w-why?" she looked like she was on the verge of tears. Ryoma, choosing not to answer this question, said, "Shizuka, let's go." He left, followed by Shizuka, leaving a crying girl behind.

"That wasn't very nice, Ryoma." said Shizuka, once they are on the corridor to their classroom. "You aren't an angel yourself, Shizuka." said Ryoma. "Anyway, niceness is not in my department either." Shizuka let an amused smile creep her lips for a moment. She shook her head, and thought, 'How did I end up with him as a partner?' Just then, the bell rang, and they reached their classroom just in time. Ryoma took his seat next to Shizuka and she caught a glimpse of a red-eyed Sakuno-apparently she had cried her eyes out for the rest of lunch at the rooftop-giving Ryoma a sad glance, but he ignored it. Shizuka sighed. Her partner really lacked in the niceness department. She could only wish that someone would coax the niceness out of Ryoma someday.

During practice…..

Ryoma flexed his arms after an intense match against Kikumaru. He was about to leave when his captain's voice stops him short. "Echizen." Tezuka called. Ryoma looked up, surprised. "What is it, buchou?" Tezuka jerked his head towards the clubhouse. "Follow me." Tezuka heard Ryoma following him. Good. He wanted to find out answers to his weird behavior this morning.

"Echizen, this morning we found you were acting strange. Is everything alright?" said Tezuka.

Ryoma nodded. "Of course, why wouldn't I be alright?"

Tezuka raised his eyebrows slightly. "You were avoiding all Inui's questions and you do not seem to be able to answer them properly." He stated.

"Everything's alright, buchou. Even if there is, it's private and personal."

Tezuka frowned. Private and personal? As his captain, it's his duty to take care of everyone's well-being. He opened his mouth to reply when the door flew open again. "Ryoma! Is your practice over? Our next mi-" Shizuka stopped when she saw Tezuka. It would not be good to say out their mission in front of Tezuka, that's for sure. "Oh. Sorry. I thought you would be released by now."

"I am released, Shizuka. I was just having a chat with buchou about….tennis." By the way he lingered on the word "tennis", Shizuka could tell that he wasn't talking about tennis at all. "We just finished out chat when you came in. Let's go." With that, he stood up, and went out of the door. Shizuka followed him silently, shooting Tezuka an apologetic look. The captain stood there slightly dumbfounded. Ryoma is definitely hiding something, but what?

Once they were out of earshot, Shizuka said "Let me guess. He was asking what you were hiding?"

"Right first time, Shizuka. Anyway, what were you about to say just now when you saw the two of us?"

"Well, our next mission is to arrest this man called Kuro Sato."

"Kuro Sato? As in the man that was nicknamed 'Cobra'?"

"Yes, that's the one." Shizuka confirmed. "We are allowed to kill if we have to." They went home, changed into their battle gear, checked their weapons, and met at a secret point. Shizuka nodded to Ryoma and they headed to the presumed headquarters of the Cobra. The Cobra was the most dangerous kidnapper in Sweden. He came to seek refuge in Japan, and kids started disappearing. It was hard to catch him on the act. Also, he is the most dangerous thief in the world. He had stolen many jewels and precious diamonds; the police couldn't even trace his tracks. They reached the mansion of the Cobra. It was huge, with seven floors. Shizuka and Ryoma crept to the doorway. Shizuka took out her pin, and picked at the lock. The lock clicked, and the door swung open. They dodged surveillance cameras and made it to the second floor.

"Let's split up; you go find the treasures he stole, I'll fight him off."

"Are you sure, Ryoma?" said Shizuka.

"Yes."

"Ok, if anyone of us finishes the task first, we'll find each other. Ok?" Ryoma nodded. They took their separate ways, Ryoma to the Cobra's bedroom, Shizuka to the treasure room. Shizuka took out her torchlight. She turned it on and shone it around. The beam landed on a plaque read "Treasury". She picked the lock again and it clicked open. She opened the door and saw the huge bag of loot at the other end of the room. However, she did not immediately run for the loot. She suspected there was some trap. But what? She tried to remember about the Cobra. He likes to build traps that blows people sky high, and he likes to use bombs as his weapon. "It's mined" she whispered. She took a few steps to the left and to the right. No risk of mines there. She stepped slightly further. No mines. Yes, she can figure out the path now. She carefully placed her feet on a spot. Then she approached the pyramid with strange little hops, sometimes landing on one foot, teetering slightly, sometimes risking a few steps. Finally, she reached the loot. She used her knife to cut a hole in the glass, took the loot, and did her odd dance back to the door. She made her way to Cobra's bedroom.

Meanwhile, Ryoma kicked open the door to find the Cobra reading his (porn) magazines. "Well, well, well. Who's this? A little boy willingly coming into my room? Saves me the trouble for planning to take my next victim." The man licked his lips, leering at Ryoma. Ryoma took out his knife. He threw it towards the Cobra but the man dodged it and took out his sword. Ryoma took out another knife and he took on the Cobra. The Cobra managed to disarm one of his knives but not before he got a gnash on his face. The man stumbled backwards, and pressed the call button, calling for help. Shizuka was nearing the room when she heard the alarm. Many men were coming her way! Well, there's no point running. She took out her knife, and took on the pack. One by one, she took them down, sporting some wounds in the process. Ryoma attacked the Cobra again, and managed to disarm him of his sword. He kicked the Cobra down and pointed the knife at his throat. "That's weird. Shouldn't have my men come by now?" he mumbled, eyeing the knife warily. "Oh, they won't be coming." said another person. He looked up. It was Shizuka. "Unfortunately, they ran into me on the way to your room."

"Did you get the loot?" said Ryoma.

"Yup!" Shizuka said happily, brandishing the huge loot for Ryoma to see.

"Wha..what? b..but ho…how?" said the Cobra.

"Oh you don't know? Shizuka is the cleverest and the trickiest person you'll ever meet!" said Ryoma, smirking. "I guess you're still mada mada dane."

After accomplishing their mission, they returned the loots back to the police and leave them to trace the owners. The Cobra was placed in jail and now they were on the train back home. "It's already 2.30a.m.! Man, this is one tiring job!" Ryoma grumbled. Shizuka sighed. Ryoma was right. However, Ryoma smiled slightly as he leaned back and rested his head. 'Another mission accomplished.' he thought.

CR: whew! Another chapter done! What do you think? Well, if you are asking me about my eye, no, I still have not gained back the sight on my left eye. Guess it's going to take a while. Do review because I will know how to improve on my story!