Title: 10. You close your mind

To their gentle questions

What do these people know about love?

Pairing/Character/s: Yuki/Machi

Word Count: 593 words

Summary: Yuki and Machi reveal that they are dating.

A/N: BWAHAHAHAHA The fluff goddesses have allowed me to write this piece of stupidity.

Radio Station: Modern Gai's Guide to Survival

Speaker: Gai

Topic: WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A CHANCE!!!

Yo.

Gai here. I've got news for everyone. Yes, even you, the hopeless soul in the corner.

There's a rumor going around school that the Sohma Yuki is dating. A girl. Which means he's no longer everyone's prince. Who is she? Well, her name is... It's...

Ma-something. Mashiro. Machimi. The plain looking girl with the blank eyes. Oh come on, you know who I'm talking about. Brown hair? Brown eyes? Doesn't talk much?

OK, this you have to know: She was the one holding Yuki's hand when they came to school together, every day for the last week. He walks her to class, and get this: He kisses her!!! On the cheek, but still. You can just hear the sound of hundreds of delicate girl hearts breaking! *pause* (sound of pen being broken)

Oops. Anyway.

Do you know what this means?

This means that dozens of broken-hearted girls will be looking for shoulders to cry on.

This means that the entire male population will be dressed up and ready to comfort these girls with open arms.

All florists in a not three, but FIVE-block radius from the school will be sold out of romantic roses.

Girls will FLING themselves at us! We will be GLORIOUS!

Gentlemen, this is a once in a lifetime chance. You have to seize the day!

Oh crap- Be cool. The prince is passing by with Machimi.

Gai out.

xXx

"Everyone's staring," Machi mumbles, fingers tightening around Yuki's hand. She hopes her hands don't get too clammy. Gai has hastily changed the subject to chicken on rice; the lunch of the day.

Yuki flashes her his best oblivious smile. "Is being the center of attention bothering you?" he teases.

Her eyes widen instead of narrow with annoyance. "I'm not bothered."

"Really? It doesn't bother me either."

Machi automatically drops his hand, and starts to turn away. He has to place a hand on her shoulder, infuriating smile and all, to keep her from leaving.

"I was kidding, Machi."

Her face is troubled as she looks up at him. "Yuki-" The students around her, who have been eavesdropping, gasp in shock. "President," Machi begins in a louder voice, "Class is starting soon. I will see you at the Student Council meeting." She uses the element of surprise to push her boyfriend out of her classsroom and slams the sliding door shut.

Yuki stands outside, bewildered and slightly amused. He turns around to glare at random students, frozen because, well... the prince got rejected? By the boring Machimi?

The first to receive his wrath is Gai. "Her name is Machi, not Machimi, not Mashiro. You, however, will call her Kuragi-san." Gai's face remains blank, so Yuki uses his best dark glare. "Understand?"

"Yes!" Gai squeaks.

"And the rest of you-" The rest of them jump entertainingly. "I don't want to see any of you harassing my girlfriend. I heard some of you have been sending Machi nasty letters." He glares at the obvious culprits; the Prince Yuki fan club members. They burst into tears, running away. "If I see, or hear, or even suspect that any of you have hurt Machi..." He lets the threat hang.

There is a long silence as everyone contemplates this.

"But Sohma-kun, is Machimi really good enough-"

"That's none of your business," Yuki says coldly. "Now..." Yuki's face turns red and he turns away before holding out a hand. "Will one of you return the bento Machi made for me?"

A/N: Does everyone get the radio metaphor? The speaker is talking or "broadcasting" and listeners who have "tuned in" are just listening to him. Also, Machi calling Yuki by his first name is so important by Japanese standards: It's like the difference between people dating and soulmates. (Even though I don't like the term soulmates.) Bento is a lunch.