Disclaimer: Shiibashi Hiroshi-sensei, Luna only plays with the characters.

Warning: language, slight oOC-ness, more school dramas, more mysteries, hints of shounen ai/yaoi (no fan-service this time, sorry… for plot progress after all), etc…

Beta: mittens_220 (LJ), as always, thank you very much for the suggestion and edit! I can't really post this chapter without your help! XD

A/N: Yah, sorry for the wait! I don't have any excuse except for my work, but I should have written (typed) faster than this, so sorry for that… Oh, and in case you're unfamiliar with Jirou in this fic, it's the same as Shima. His complete name is Shima Jirou, right? I tend to use the first name in the description, so some of you might get slightly confused. I hope this helps clear things up.

Now, time to enjoy this new chapter! ^_^

Chapter 18: Dangerous Teacher

Rikuo opened his eyes slightly as the stream of the morning sunlight hit him on the face. He woke up slowly while yawning and rubbed his eyelids with the back of his hand. He then noticed that Rikuou was still sound asleep beside him, and that one of his hands were draped on top of Rikuo's waist.

"Jeez… who would guess that Sandaime of Nura Gumi likes cuddling?" Rikuo shook his head, smiling amusedly while ruffling Rikuou's hair.

Rikuo then kissed Rikuou's forehead while moving the silver-black haired Sandaime's hand away from his waist. He stood up and redressed himself before he went out the room quietly. He was kind of impressed with himself for being able to get out of the room without waking Rikuou up. Usually, Rikuou would stir awake the moment Rikuo moved.

Rikuo yawned slightly as he was walking down to the big bathroom in the Nura mansion. He met some Nura Gumi's members on the way and they greeted him politely as he greeted back. Then for some reasons, they stared at him for some time, with a pink tint on their cheeks, before they shook their head and apologized for being rude to him.

Rikuo instantly remembered that he only wore a night yukata and those guys probably saw the hickeys left by Rikuou two nights ago. The dark chocolate haired boy flushed red in embarrassment as he hurried to the bathroom, feeling extra conscious about his appearance.

"Oh, I'm so going to kill that moronic brother of mine for this!" Rikuo vowed, very annoyed and embarrassed.

Rikuo went inside the bathroom and closed the door before stripping. He didn't notice that there was someone in the bathroom until he stepped inside the big bath. He blinked and gasped in surprise as he saw dark blue eyes staring at him from the shower stall. Gozumaru just finished showering, with water still dripping off his hair.

"G-Gozumaru…" Rikuo looked upwards at the boy who was walking in the direction to the big bath. His eyes were on Rikuo's, somber and somewhat intense.

Rikuo didn't really mind the fact that they were both naked because it was totally normal being inside the bathroom and all, but the way Gozumaru looks at him made Rikuo uneasy. It wasn't nasty or lecherous. It was the intensity that scared him a bit.

"Good morning, Rikuo. Fancy seeing you so early in the bathroom, did you have a wonderful night?" Gozumaru asked evenly, almost sarcastic even, as his eyes shifted to the marks all over Rikuo's body.

"Don't do that, Gozumaru," Rikuo averted his gaze from the dark bluish haired boy, submerging his body till his neck level, trying to hide the evidence of what Rikuou and he had done two nights ago.

"Do what exactly?" Gozumaru asked stepping inside the bath as well. "It's not like I've ever touched you that way," he continued sitting beside Rikuo.

Rikuo was silent at that, not daring to lift his gaze to see the expression on Gozumaru's face.

It was very awkward, especially after Rikuo knew how the other boy felt about him. Normally, he wouldn't stay so close to someone who he had just rejected because he knew how hard that was for the rejected one. He didn't think Gozumaru would force his feelings onto him, but being a teenager, nothing was impossible.

"Relax, as much as I want to touch you that way, I don't want you to hate me," Gozumaru said again and Rikuo looked up at that.

"Not because you're afraid of getting maimed by Rikuou?" Rikuo asked, pretty surprised at Gozumaru's exclamation.

Gozumaru's sweat dropped. "Please, who do you think I am? I'm never afraid of dying. It's just… you're actually the first friend that I made. For me, you're different from anyone else I had met so far both in Yakuza world and in civilian world. Falling for you might have been a stupid thing, but I never regretted our meeting. Not even once… and I don't want you to change your attitude towards me just because you know how I feel," he explained slowly and his face was slightly pink when he said all of that.

Throughout his whole speech, Gozumaru never averted his gaze from Rikuo's eyes. He looked at him directly and with the bravery that didn't lose to the usually brazen Rikuou and he told Rikuo how he felt about him once again.

"It's okay if you don't like me the same way. Let me stay by your side," Gozumaru said, probably trying to salvage whatever was left in their relationship.

Rikuo looked at Gozumaru with a rueful smile. "Gozumaru, you're like a brother to me," he said, responding to the Young Head of Gyuuki Gumi's feelings. "I won't cast you away just because you like me like that. Honestly, I'm happy… and like I said the day before yesterday, I care about you. If it's okay with you, I'd like us to stay as friends," he continued, but unlike his usual touchy-feely behavior, he held himself back.

Both Rikuo and Gozumaru were already naked in the same bath. It would be very insensitive for Rikuo if he touched Gozumaru at all while knowing how he felt. He didn't need to contribute to the already tempting situation and he didn't want to take the risk.

"You're not angry for my stupid behavior on Saturday?" Gozumaru looked surprised now, after he seemed to digest the fact that he was totally forgiven even though he had crossed the line.

"Of course not, in fact, I need to thank you for the very realistic anger you showed. No one would suspect that our fake relationship was a fake at all when my friends witnessed how angry you were during our breakup," Rikuo said while looking down, feeling guilty all over again for lying to his friends.

"You didn't tell me about the breakup plan at all." Gozumaru huffed at Rikuo, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek, looking indignant at the fact that he was used by Rikuo for something like that.

"I intended to tell you before Rikuou showed up during the party, but that idiotic brother of mine acted on his own and visited two hours early than the promised time. I almost panicked because of that," Rikuo sighed deeply in defeat. "Thank god it still worked despite Rikuou's unexpected act. That guy is really a pain in the ass sometimes," he said in annoyance.

Gozumaru chuckled slightly at that. "I thought he would be a pain in the ass constantly, especially for you," he said.

The double entendre in his words was enough to make Rikuo blush really hard. "Gozumaru!" he shouted, splashing the bathwater at the slightly taller male and Gozumaru hurriedly retaliated by doing the same.

Before long Rikuo and Gozumaru were having a water splashing war that both were totally drenched and making the entire surface of the bathroom tiles wet with warm water.

In the end, Kubinashi came to check what the ruckus was about and even though he scolded Gozumaru for being so childish, he just patted Rikuo's hair and asked him to get ready for breakfast.

"Damn. How was that fair?" Gozumaru grumbled.

"That's one of the advantages for being the shadow of the boss," Rikuo grinned cheerily at that. Gozumaru looked slightly stunned seeing the wide happy smile on Rikuo's face. "Let's eat breakfast together, Gozumaru," he offered his hand to the dark-blue haired boy and he gave him a small smile as well, taking Rikuo's hand.

Gozumaru knew he wouldn't be able to hate Rikuo. He was just grateful that Rikuo had done as he was asked to regarding their slightly more awkward relationship after the fake breakup. And even after all that, the chocolate-black haired boy still smiled at him so nicely and kindly.

Falling in love with Rikuo might have been a moronic thing to do because Rikuo would never love him the same way back, but Gozumaru didn't regret it. Rikuo was worthy of that love after all.

"So… did you and Rikuou really sleep together?" Gozumaru asked boldly then, causing Rikuo to turn red and slip, almost falling down on his butt if not for this fast recovery.

"That's none of your business!" Rikuo punched Gozumaru's side before he stomped hard and left with an annoyed huff, leaving the other boy to crouch on the floor, nursing his abused side while grinning painfully.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

Rikuou stared at Rikuo and Gozumaru who ate breakfast with him suspiciously. They both were fresh from taking a bath after all.

"Did you guys bathe together?" Rikuou narrowed his eyes at the two boys who sat side by side.

"What are you talking about?" Rikuo asked, feigning innocence which was totally convincing, but Gozumaru flinched slightly, so Rikuou knew that Rikuo was lying.

"Riku…" Rikuou was ready to throw a tantrum, so Rikuo sighed deeply.

"It was a coincidence. Gozumaru was at the shower stall and I didn't see him. He didn't see me," Rikuo said, explaining.

Rikuou then glared at Gozumaru who confirmed the story evenly. "We just talked. Didn't touch each other," he said.

"Normally, I would have gouge your eyes out for actually seeing Riku's naked skin, but it seems you guys worked something out, and it's necessary, so I will let it slide this time," Rikuou said, but of course there was venom dripping from his tone. "This is the last time I'll let that happen though. Now everyone is banned from entering the big bathroom if Rikuo is there," he said sternly. "Am I clear?"

That question wasn't just for Gozumaru, but also for everyone present.

"Yes, Sandaime!" everyone agreed instantly, with pale faces.

"You're treating me like a girl," Rikuo huffed at Rikuou for being too overprotective.

"I'm doing this for you," Rikuou said, still very pissed off.

"He's having a period, isn't he?" Mezumaru whispered to Gozumaru's ear quietly, but Rikuou heard him and glared menacingly at the twins who gulped and shook their heads and raised their hands, showing that they meant no harm.

"You're so possessive it's ridiculous," Rikuo said again in annoyance, but he was blushing as well, a sign that he didn't really mind and if Rikuou squinted, he could even say that Rikuo was a bit happy about that.

"Don't care as long as I can protect you," Rikuou said while continuing his breakfast after that.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

The situation at school wasn't easy as well because everyone glanced at Rikuo rather weirdly when he arrived with Gozumaru and Mezumaru. It was until the point that it made Rikuo uncomfortable when he noticed them, and yet they quickly looked away before he could say anything.

"Okay, that was very weird," Rikuo commented as a girl quickly ran away after bumping into him, without even saying anything.

"Hmm… maybe the news about us breaking up has spread," Gozumaru calculated.

"We just broke up last Saturday. How come everyone knows about it on Monday?" Rikuo huffed.

"One of your friends must have been chatty enough to spread the fire so quickly," Mezumaru commented.

"Those friends of mine are your friends too," Rikuo said again and the twins shrugged at that. "You never considered them as your friends?" he asked again, feeling slightly concerned.

"It's pointless. We keep so many secrets that our so called friends can't know about. If we have to constantly think about what to say before speaking to them, it will be pretty tiring, right? It's easier if they stay away from our affairs," Gozumaru explained.

"I wonder why you never said anything when we were still together," Rikuo sighed deeply.

"What?" Gozumaru raised his eyebrows in questioning look.

"No. It seems we really lack communication all this time. If you consider me a friend at all, you should have said something about it, Gozumaru. I feel so bad right now that I almost know nothing about you with regards to your everyday life, when I consider you one of my close friends," he continued while walking more quickly to his own classroom.

Mezumaru looked at his twin's face and Rikuo's back before sighing deeply as well. "He's right, you know. We can't expect him to know about what we think if we don't tell him. He isn't our twin after all," he agreed, tapping Gozumaru's back softly.

"I just realized that after I lost him, huh?" Gozumaru chuckled bitterly.

"Naw, don't be so sad about it, Gozu. I'm still here with you," Mezumaru then sneaked his hand on Gozumaru's and held it solidly. Gozumaru usually would shake it off, but this time around, he needed Mezumaru's company more than before to console his broken heart.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

Rikuo entered his classroom and everyone turned to him for a moment before they resumed their activity. "Good morning, everyone," he kept his usual cheery expression despite the nervousness he felt since he didn't know if the news about he and Gozumaru's breakup had already spread.

"Good morning, Nura-kun," Kiyotsugu replied his greeting with his usual behavior as well.

Rikuo hadn't seen Kana yet and her seat was still empty, but Yura seemed to be ignoring him on purpose. Rikuo sighed. She must have still been angry. Jirou hadn't appeared yet because he had morning practice. Rikuo saw him at the field earlier. He then turned to Saori and Natsumi's seats. Their bags were there, but he didn't see the duo.

"Where are Maki-san and Torii-san?" Rikuo asked the Kiyo Cross Supernatural Investigation Squad's leader then.

"Ah… they said they wanted to peek into the teacher's lounge. There's a new teacher apparently, and they want to see him," Kiyotsugu said, shrugging.

"A new teacher?" Rikuo raised his eyebrows in wonder.

"Yeah, rumor said the teacher is still young and handsome. That's why they're curious," Kiyotsugu said again, huffing slightly. "I really don't understand how the girls' minds work. I meant… it's just a male teacher for youkai's sake," he shook his head at that.

Rikuo chuckled slightly, a bead of sweat dropping from his head. "Well, girls like handsome men after all…" he said slowly.

"It's not like they will get any chance to date him whether he's handsome or not. He's a teacher after all," Kiyotsugu said again, opening his laptop to see some updates on his website.

Oh Kiyotsugu-kun… you'll be surprised at the number of depraved teachers in this universe…—Rikuo laughed nervously at his own thought.

Not long after that, Kana arrived to the classroom and saw both Kiyotsugu and Rikuo arguing about the existence of Kappa in modern Japan.

"I'm telling you. Kappa still exists, just not in big cities," Rikuo said. "They live in the mountains where the water is still free from pollution."

"There are some witnesses who have reported to the website that they saw kappa at the riverbank near Ukiyoe" Kiyotsugu argued. "They are living in the cities too," he continued.

Rikuo sighed. "Fine, we can always check on the hot spot to prove it," he said then.

"Surely. I'll install some red eye cameras later. We'll investigate this matter thoroughly!" Kiyotsugu clenched his fist in spirit at that.

"Just like always, you guys get so excited when you're talking about youkai and supernatural things, huh?" Kana chuckled from behind the two boys.

Rikuo turned to face her immediately. "Ah, good morning, Kana-chan!" he then smiled joyfully at her.

Kana blinked once as she saw that, as if she did not expect that kind of attitude. Kiyotsugu then also greeted her. "G-good morning, Rikuo-kun, Kiyo-kun," she smiled back, looking slightly nervous. "Rikuo-kun, you look very cheerful for some reasons," she pointed out.

"Huh, really? I thought I'm acting as usual though," Rikuo tilted his head aside, wondering.

"Ah, now that Ienaga-san mentioned it. You do look more cheerful. What's the occasion?" Kiyotsugu said as well, just noticing apparently that Rikuo was more chatty and lively than usual.

"That's why, I'm acting like usual," Rikuo's sweat dropped again now.

"Morning, everyone!"

Before Kiyotsugu and Kana said anything more, the duo girls Saori and Natsumi returned to class with very excited looks on their faces, quickly distracting Rikuo, Kana and Kiyotsugu from their earlier conversation.

"Maki-san, Torii-san, good morning," Rikuo immediately smiled at them and they went rigid for a moment, looking surprised. "Maki-san…?" Rikuo looked at the girls a bit oddly. That was a strange reaction for them.

"Eh, uh… g-good morning, Nura-kun…" Natsumi said, smiling nervously while Saori was averting her gaze from the chocolate-black haired boy.

Rikuo blinked once before narrowing his gaze at the both girls. "Um… what's with the strange reaction?" he asked slightly nervous as well. They might still feel awkward for witnessing Rikuo and Gozumaru's breakup, but this was going too far.

The two girls looked at each other with slightly worried expression on their faces before "We're very sorry!" they shouted at the same time while bowing to Rikuo, surprising the glasses wearing boy.

"E-eh? Why are you suddenly apologizing?" Rikuo looked at them oddly, not understanding the sudden admission of guilt.

"Um… about the breakup thing…" Natsumi tried to explain with frantic look.

"When we were talking about it the night we went home from your house… a guy from newspaper club at our school overheard it apparently," Saori said, scratching her cheek as she looked down.

"Ah…" Rikuo understood why everyone looked at him weirdly then. "He published the article this morning, huh?" he looked down at his table now.

"We're sorry! We meant to tell you the first thing yesterday, but your mom said you were away the entire day at Sunday, so…" Natsumi tried again, looking very regretful.

"That's okay. It's true anyway," Rikuo smiled ruefully.

"It's not okay!" Saori raised her voice, surprising Rikuo again. "Something like that…is meant to be a private matter! Even though you're acting as if everything was fine, we saw it with our own eyes how both you and Gozumaru were hurt…. It was a painful thing. It was so insensitive of the newspaper club to make a spectacle of your relationship and feelings like that!" her voice was so loud and intense that the other classmates started to look at their direction as well, looking awkward and nervous.

Rikuo noticed the others look at them and went silent. "Maki-san… I-…" he then looked at another way. "Excuse me, I need some time alone," he said while covering his face with the back of his hand. He immediately left the classroom, leaving the bewildered looking classmates, and went to the restroom to hide there for awhile.

"Rikuo-kun…" Kana looked at Rikuo's back worriedly as he left the classroom.

"His smile can really be deceiving sometimes, huh?" Kiyotsugu sighed deeply, looking solemn as well.

"Saori-chan…" Natsumi grasped Saori's slightly trembling hand.

"He's… angry at us, isn't he?" Saori looked really guilty now.

"He's not angry with ya," Yura who didn't say anything and purposely ignored Rikuo the entire time spoke suddenly, surprising the other Squad members.

"Yura-chan…?" Kana looked at dark-short haired girl in confusion.

"He's angry at himself for worrying ya guys. Rikuo-kun is always like that, right?" Yura asked then looking at the others with a solemn look as well.

Kiyotsugu and Kana looked down, agreeing completely at that comment. Natsumi and Saori looked at Yura, still in surprised looks. "Yura-chan… seems worried about Nura-kun too," Natsumi commented.

"I am… because now he's dating a very dangerous person. I'm just worried that he will get hurt very badly if he stays with someone like Rikuou with that soft heart of his," Yura clenched her fists angrily, feeling helpless that she couldn't do anything to help Rikuo.

"No, we can help him with one thing, though…" Saori got an idea.

"Huh?" the others looked at blond haired girl wonderingly now.

"We can always visit the newspaper club and give them a beating for causing trouble for our dearest Nura-kun," Saori then cracked her knuckles while making an evil face.

Kiyotsugu grinned at that. "I agree," he said, standing up and closing the lid of his laptop.

"Eh, Kiyotsugu-kun?" Kana and Natsumi looked very surprised. Kiyotsugu was usually very rational and he always settled things with money, not violence. They didn't expect that he would agree.

"Let's give our regards to the newspaper club and give them a lesson or two about respecting other people's privacy," Kiyotsugu smiled before he led his squad to follow him to the newspaper club.

Saori smirked proudly while Natsumi and Kana could only follow him with dumbfounded looks.

Yura hesitated for a moment to follow because having a fight at school with another club's members was against the school regulations, but Kiyotsugu was right that the newspaper club had crossed the line this time. She then stood and followed them as well with renewed determination. Her friends' well being was more important right then. She would do something to stop them if the fight got out of hand.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

Rikuo washed his face on the faucet before drying it with the handkerchief he fished out from his pants pocket. He looked at his own face in the mirror. He looked very bad. But it wasn't because of the fact that he broke up with Gozumaru. It was because his friends took that event so seriously he felt so guilty for playing them like that.

"My own friends don't even know the real me… huh?" Rikuo set his very sad face as he said it. He wondered if that expression was also a fake one. It was so easy of him to pull out the right expression in every occasion that he didn't know whether it was because he was acting or because he was really feeling that way.

Rikuo shook his head to clear his depressed mind. Just one more year… one more year and he could drop all the pretenses. Just one more year… and he could tell them everything. Whether they would accept the real him or not, it was their decision. But he had to hold on for now. He needed to finish high school smoothly with his friends by his side. Call him a perfectionist, but he wanted a normal high school life before he changed completely into a Yakuza member.

He had just finished drying his hands and slipped the handkerchief back into his pocket when someone suddenly barged in into the restroom.

"Nura!" the voice shouted his name.

Rikuo turned his face to the boy who had just entered the room. "Uh, what's wrong?"

"This is bad! Kiyo Cross club is having a fight with the newspaper club!"

"Eh?" Rikuo widened his eyes in shock at that before he dashed to run after his friends before they created a ruckus in school for his sake.

Rikuo arrived at the newspaper club room just as Kiyotsugu was about to punch the Head of the newspaper club in the face. "Kiyotsugu-kun!" he shouted to stop the taller teen from the door.

Kiyotsugu stopped his fist and turned to face Rikuo. "Don't stop us, Nura-kun. These guys need a lesson once in awhile. They have been gutsy enough to play with your private matters. Moreover, they called our Kiyo Cross Supernatural Investigation Squad an 'unnecessary useless baseless club with unclear activities' in their article. They started this," he said, pulling the whimpering boy's collar even more.

"You're angrier for the second reason, aren't you?" Rikuo asked, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.

"Still a good enough excuse to beat them up," Saori replied as she tore apart some of the scripts of their newspaper.

"Hey!" some of the members protested at that.

"You went too far, newspaper club. Apologize to Rikuo-kun," Kana demanded.

"That's right! How do you think Nura-kun feels about his private matters becoming a spectacle to the entire school?" Natsumi also shouted at them.

Yura didn't say anything. She just glanced at the door, seeming to be ready to alert them if the teachers came or something.

"Hey, you guys…" Rikuo tried to stop them.

"Giving the other people knowledge about something they want to know is the duty of a journalist! What's wrong with that?" the boy in Kiyotsugu's hand said indignantly.

"What's wrong…? What's wrong with that? There are things that people want to keep to themselves! Without considering their feelings, you published something that's very sensitive! Do you think it's okay for you to insist on publishing about other people's weakness just because you want to? How do you feel if I published your shameful behavior to the entire school?" Kiyotsugu smirked evilly at the paling boy now and Rikuo knew Kiyotsugu was serious.

Well, Kiyotsugu's family was rich enough to do something like that.

"Guys, the teachers are coming!" Yura said suddenly, surprising everyone else.

Kiyotsugu clicked his tongue and released the boy. "You guys are lucky. Just remember, we have all of your data in our possession and if you don't apologize properly about your publication to Rikuo and our club, I'll publish all the shameful things you have ever done from your birth until now!" he said pushing the guy to fall down on his butt.

"Let's go," Kiyotsugu said again to his friends while turning away to get out. Saori ripped another script before she threw the papers to the floor and walked away as well. Natsumi spat out her tongue childishly at them before she followed her friend. Kana just huffed in annoyance and left. Yura still didn't say anything as she left as well before the teacher got here.

Rikuo looked at the devastation left in the newspaper room worriedly. "I'm sorry about that. I'll help you clean the mess later. Right now, I don't want to see any of your faces," he said bowing before leaving as well. Everyone in the newspaper club looked slightly bewildered as they saw Rikuo's very regretful and sad expression.

"Chief… that boy… isn't he the one who always helps the student council and other classes' with their errands? He's usually very… cheery…" one of the girls spoke up concernedly.

"He looks… very sad and down…. Did he turn that way because of what we published?" one of the guys also asked, looking mortified by it.

Immediately, everyone's face turned apprehensive and horrified at that realization.

"Chief! We have to apologize formally! He's a very good and helpful kid, you know!"

"Aaaah! What have we done to such wonderful person?"

"If he stops helping everyone after this, it's totally our fault!"

"How many angry people will come and destroy our club if his club friends immediately make a hostile move toward us the moment the newspaper is published?"

The instant uproar in the newspaper club was enough to raise an alarm that the teachers increased their speed to walk to their room to scold them for creating such ruckus so early in the morning. Luckily, Rikuo and the others had left the scene, so they didn't get caught.

The bell rang shortly after that and Kiyo Cross Supernatural Investigation Squad walked quickly to their class. Though, they hadn't said anything to each other yet after letting off some steam to the newspaper club. Rikuo didn't know what to say in this situation. He wanted to thank them for their consideration, but he wanted to lecture them too for reacting so strongly. He always believed if they could talk and communicate civilly, it could solve any problem no matter how bad it was.

"Um… everyone…" Rikuo called them as they were about to enter their classroom and they stopped. The chocolate haired boy then was silent for a moment before deciding to omit the scolding part and honestly told them his feelings. "Thank you…" he said finally in quiet voice.

Kiyotsugu smiled, so did the others, even Yura who was still giving Rikuo a silent treatment.

Kana then turned to Rikuo and held his hand. "Once in a while, you can depend on us too, Rikuo-kun," she said cheerily.

"Un!" Now Rikuo smiled happily, clasping her hand between his in return.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

"So… what kind of person is our new teacher?" Kana who also heard the rumors when she came this morning asked Saori and Natsumi after they were seated once again on their respective seats.

"Tanioka-sensei said it was a probationary teacher. If I'm not wrong, it's a young male teacher, a fresh graduate from Kyoto University," Saori said, looking excited.

"We haven't gotten his name, but they said he is very handsome!" Natsumi moaned happily.

"Heeh… what lesson will he teach us?" Kiyotsugu asked, renewing the data base in his computer about the teacher of this school.

"Kiyotsugu-kun… you really like taking notes about something like that, huh…?" Rikuo asked, eyeing the laptop curiously. He wondered if Kiyotsugu had information of a lot more people in his laptop. Did he also put information about his friends there, including about Rikuo?

"Don't be stupid. I'm only interested in taking notes as much as I can about youkai and supernatural occurrences. This is just simple information that we need to deal with people. It's common sense to take a note about something important so we won't forget, right?" Kiyotsugu reasoned.

"Well… that's true, but…" Rikuo's sweat dropped. Was it really normal?

"It's English!" Saori and Natsumi said in unison.

"Ugh… my least favorite subject…" Rikuo moaned slightly.

"Ahaha, that's right, Rikuo-kun isn't very fond of English lessons, huh?" Kana chuckled hearing his complaint.

"Well, I can't really practice the language at home since everyo—I meant," Rikuo quickly amended "—my mom doesn't really speak English and she's not home often because of her work…" He was slightly nervous for almost revealing his secret.

Truly, people in Nura Gumi sucked at English. They were Yakuza after all. Wakana was smart when she was in high school, but that was almost two decades ago. He doubted she still remembered all of it after not using that language for so long.

"Ah, right… Rikuo-kun is the only child after all. If you had an older brother or sister, they could teach you, huh…" Kana nodded in understanding while wondering. "Ah, Yura-chan has an older brother, right?" she then turned to Yura who was still silent and unwilling to speak to Rikuo.

"Um…" Yura said quietly, still refusing to look at Rikuo's face as well.

Rikuo sighed deeply at that. He knew that Yura was quite stubborn, but it still hurt that she didn't want to speak to him just because he dated Rikuou….

Well, Rikuo couldn't blame her though. If Yura suddenly dated someone Rikuo hated, he would doubt if they could continue be friends as well. After all, they would end up arguing about the boyfriend if their opinion was biased because of personal feelings.

That was right. Yura wouldn't speak about any plans she had about taking Nura Gumi and Rikuou down to Rikuo since he was Rikuou's lover now. But, he didn't exactly wish to hear about her plans or project or any of that, because Rikuo would be happy if she was just an ordinary friend to him, not as a Keikain, but as Yura.

Rikuo gave a small smile as he looked at Yura and she averted her eyes from him with a troubled look. "If," she suddenly spoke, surprising Rikuo, "-if yer' really that bad in English, ya can ask me about some problems and I'll help ya with them…" She was still not looking at Rikuo, but he knew that line was for him and he was very happy for that.

"Thank you, Yura-san," Rikuo smiled cheerily at her and she visibly blushed at that.

Kana, Saori, Natsumi and Kiyotsugu looked at each other before they chuckled seeing the cute exchange between Rikuo and Yura.

Well, Yura was probably still mad, but at least she was speaking to Rikuo again. That was the first step to patch their friendship.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

"Okay, everyone, take your seats!"

After the teacher entered the class, the students who were loitering around inside quickly came back to their seats. The class leader led them to say their greeting before all sat down neatly at their desk.

"Okay, good morning everyone. Firstly, I hope all of you have done your homework," the teacher said with a grin while the students groaned slightly at that. "And we will have a little morning quiz after this, so I hope all of you have studied," he said, his grin widening while the students' moaning got slightly louder. "But, I have great news for you guys too! We will have a new teacher for English lesson and since your first subject today is English, you'll have the honor to taste his capability in teaching for the first time! Come on in!" he then made a 'TADAAA!' sound as he let the rumored new teacher in.

All the students gasped as a very tall and handsome teacher with long light brown hair and light amber colored eyes stepped inside the classroom. The new teacher walked to the teacher's desk and then stood there, smiling to the students who were still in shock at his appearance.

Among everyone who looked shocked at the new teacher's appearance, Rikuo was the most in shock because… he knew that face. He met him the day before when he was on a date with Rikuou in Niigata.

"It's nice to see you, everyone. I'm Keira Shou (1), a new probationary teacher. I'll be with you for three months to teach English from now on. Please help me with my training so I can be your permanent teacher, okay?" Shou said while throwing a very nice enticing smile to everyone and immediately the girls swooned and squealed happily with hearts in their eyes.

"Kyaaah! Keira-sensei, so cool!"

"Aww~, he's so handsome and sexy~!"

"Keira-senseeeei~!"

The boys' sweat dropped at the instant 'fan-girl' reaction to their new teacher from the girls.

"Ah, right… you can call me 'Shou-chan' so we can be closer," Shou winked teasingly and the squeal got louder.

"Wait a second, Shou-sensei… that's…" Tanioka, the homeroom teacher seemed nervous at that suggestion.

"That's perfectly okay, Tanioka-sensei. I want to know my students better and treat them as a friend rather than a teacher, so they won't be shy if they want to ask me if they have something they don't understand," Shou said with a smile at the older man and Tanioka seemed defeated by that nice smile of his.

"I-I see," Tanioka said, laughing slightly, still looking a little nervous. "Well, if that's your teaching style, I can't really say anything," he said, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek. "Okay then, this first period is yours, Shou-sensei. You can show your skill in teaching then," he then let Shou take over while the girl swooned again happily.

"He seems like a very nice teacher," one of the boys at the back row said slowly. However, Rikuo who was still in shock couldn't really catch whatever they were saying because….

This is not true…! He's the guy who hit on me yesterday!—Rikuo instantly panicked at that thought. After all, the guy, Keira Shou, had seen him on a date with Rikuou the day before and then Rikuou also referred Rikuo as his brother. Moreover...

"See you again, Nura Rikuo…"

Shou had called Rikuo's complete name the day before even though he hadn't mentioned it to him. It had bothered him a great deal, but he didn't say anything to Rikuou because he didn't want to worry his half brother. He never expected that Shou would show up again in front of him like this… huh?

No way…! He already knew who I really am?—Rikuo's face paled severely at the sudden crazy thought that entered his mind. It was getting worse when Shou seemed noticing Rikuo's presence there. He looked at Rikuo's panicked eyes and smirked knowingly.

He knows… he definitely… knows my real identity!

This would get very troublesome later. What would Rikuo do to solve this very big problem?

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

"Rikuo-sama, Ryouta-san has come to report," Kubinashi said from behind the door as Rikuou was checking some reports from Arawashi Gumi from the traditional market district.

"Oh, he came back from Kyoto already?" Rikuou put down the paper and allowed Kubinashi and Ryouta to enter. "How are you doing, Ryouta?" he asked with a smile as he saw the baby faced chocolate haired man.

"I'm alright. Thank you for your concern, Sandaime. I'm sorry for being so late in reporting. As you can see, I've just come back from Kyoto." Ryouta bowed low before he raised his head and looked at Rikuou's ruby colored eyes with his chocolate ones.

Rikuou huffed slightly in amusement as he saw Ryouta's cute serious face. "As always, you look so stern and serious. Your cute face will be wasted for that kind of look," he said, joking slightly.

"Eh?" a bead of sweat dropped from Ryouta's head. He glanced at Kubinashi who tried to suppress a laugh. "Um… Sandaime, I don't know you can joke like that…" he said, slightly nervous because Rikuou seemed a little bit strange.

"No, well… normally I wouldn't joke like that, but I decided to loosen up a little because enjoying life is also important. Riku taught me that," Rikuou said pleasantly. Both Ryouta and Kubinashi looked dumbstruck seeing his expression. "You should loosen up a little too, Ryouta. Going undercover for so long must be tiring, right? You don't have to act so seriously in your own home," he suggested.

"Ah, I understand… thank you, Sandaime," Ryouta then softened his expression and gave the silver-black haired boss a small smile.

Kubinashi looked pleased when he saw the exchange between their leader and his best friend. He reached out and ruffled Ryouta's slightly messy chocolate hair lovingly. Ryouta looked at the blond-black haired man and blushed slightly in embarrassment.

"Am I really that stern?" Ryouta asked, scratching his right cheek timidly.

"Well, when I saw you at the gate, you looked like a guy who had constipated," Kubinashi chuckled and Ryouta blushed harder.

"Sorry… It's just, no one took me seriously if I'm acting like I used to doing at home," Ryouta sighed deeply at that.

"You weren't made to do something against your will there, were you?" Rikuou asked then, slightly somber now. Doing undercover could be very dangerous and sometimes his men had to do something against their beliefs to protect themselves, and it could destroy someone else's spirit.

"No, nothing like that, Rikuou-sama, they treated me well… just… they don't really trust me with the important information when my face is like this," Ryouta smiled childishly and Rikuou blinked seeing it.

Kubinashi sniggered slightly. "He must be very popular as a store mascot," he laughed after that while Ryouta huffing and protesting at Kubinashi indignantly for making a joke of his position.

"Even so, I picked up more important information by working at the store. A lot of yakuza often roam around that area and talk," Ryouta said, getting back to business.

"Outside their head quarters, they can't shut their mouth, huh? Nice… so, what did you get in Kyoto, Ryouta?" Rikuou asked.

"This is the biggest and the most peculiar one among the others, Sandaime. But, in the past year I was living in Kyoto, a lot of families in Kyoto were merging," Ryouta said while pulling out a notebook.

"Merging? Do you mean performing an alliance?" Rikuou asked again, raising his eyebrow.

"Not… quite right," Ryouta then looked thoughtful for a moment. "It isn't like performing an alliance like in Nura Gumi Alliance. How do I say it… it was like… one by one, the families were disbanded. Their family names were discarded and then the members of the disbanded families seemed to join together into one family," Ryouta said.

"Seriously?" Rikuo blinked in surprise at that. "What the hell are they doing… joining together like that? Under what name are they gathering?" he was very curious now.

"Sadly, no one said anything about that. Not even when I purposely baited them," Ryouta looked down, feeling slightly ashamed that he couldn't get that particular information. "They move like some kind of secret society. Non-members don't exactly know what they do, but it might have something to do with the terrorism that had started to happen there," he said again, reporting.

"Oi, oi… Kyoto is in danger then…" Rikuou was concerned. Yes, it wasn't his turf, but even so, he planned to extend his wings there too someday. It wouldn't be good if he couldn't get Kyoto in a good condition. "What are the Kyoto Police doing in response to the merging?" he asked then.

"They can't do anything. Mostly because they're quite happy that some big families like 'Dokuro Gumi' and 'Douji Gumi' were disbanded," Ryouta said, answering the question to the point. "They don't know that those big families are reforming into another group that's stronger and more dangerous."

"Hmm… not even the Keikain know?" Rikuou asked again.

"The Keikain know," Ryouta nodded surely. "The private detectives from Keikain Families are picking up vibes of the reforming of this dangerous family, but even though they have statements and photographs, there's only a little they can do without the formal order from the Police Department to investigate. Their hands are tied," he continued seriously.

Rikuou then was silent, thinking about something as he set his serious look. "What are they planning actually…?"

"Ah, and one more," Ryouta suddenly spoke up. "I don't think it's relevant, but there is one name that keeps popping up whenever I tried to verify the rumors."

That raised Rikuou's curiosity. "What is it?"

"Koromo Corporation," Ryouta said. "It's not a Yakuza family or anything, but somehow, the name of that corporation always comes up whenever I try to get more information about the rumors," he said again, explaining.

"Koromo Corporation… the building that's used by Tamazuki to form their base in Ukiyoe last year also belongs to Koromo Corporation, right?" Rikuou remembered because the name was peculiar and he wasn't familiar with it. It was a business rival to Zen's Yakushi Corporation, but Zen didn't take the corporation as a threat because they were quite civil with each other.

"Do you think this corporation has something to do with this, Sandaime?" Ryouta asked again, looking worried if he should dig a little further about the corporation.

"I don't know, but it's not coincidence if the name keeps popping out in your search. I want to know more about it, but… you've gone long enough. I'll send someone else to Kyoto for this particular mission. You'd better go home and rest. Saburo and your other brothers must want to see their leader back," Rikuou tapped Ryouta's shoulder in a proud smile. "You did well, Ryouta. I'm glad I have you as my ally," he continued and Ryouta seemed about to cry at the compliment.

"Sandaime…! Thank you very much, Rikuou-sama! I'm so glad that I can be useful to you!" Ryouta shouted, totally moved by Rikuou's praise.

"Thank god, ne, Ryouta," Kubinashi also said with a kind smile and Ryouta hugged him happily.

"Yeah!" Ryouta said, grinning widely.

Kubinashi chuckled and hugged the younger man back, seeming very happy as well. Rikuou chuckled seeing the two best friends. He was glad that people in his family seemed really close to each other.

Yup, his family… a family that his father had always wanted and protected and Rikuou remembered about their time together in the house, with Rihan, Rikuo, his mother and Wakana-mama… The perfect family he had always dreamed on.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

Shou looked at the papers in his hands with pleased look. "Okay, I have received your fruits of studying English all this time," he smiled cheerily in front of the groaning students who had just finished their little test. "Don't worry, my cute students. This won't come out in your final report. This is just a way for me to know how far you have learned about English language before I teach you further, especially the grammar because it's important," he explained.

Some of the students sighed in relief at that, clearly because this test was unexpected, a lot of them hadn't studied the night before. Either way, Rikuo was screwed because English was his weakness. He thought he would never use it in real life anyway, and he had never wanted to go abroad too.

"Oh?" Shou raised his eyebrows as he flipped and saw a particular paper in his hand. "Nura Rikuo-kun," he called, surprising the hell out of Rikuo.

"Yes!" Rikuo jerked up and widened his eyes in alarm. Shou smirked as he saw Rikuo's 'deer in headlight' expression.

"You seem…" Shou glanced at the paper again and chuckled, earning a confused look from the students, especially Rikuo who panicked slightly, "…not really fond of this particular subject, are you?" he looked amused.

Rikuo blushed in embarrassment at that. "Uh… it's a subject I'm weak at, sensei, not because I don't like it…" he said dejectedly and some of his classmates snickered at that.

"Well, you need to work harder. You're still a sophomore, so you think you can relax, but in the next spring you'll be a senior and English will be in the final exam and the entrance exam of your university choice. It's better if you start studying now," Shou said kindly.

Huh?—Rikuo blinked. He thought the man would embarrass him further, but it seemed he was serious in being a teacher.

"I'll work harder, sensei," Rikuo nodded.

"Great. If you need me to give you an extra lesson, you can always meet me at the teacher's lounge. I'll help you as much as I can," Shou said again, looking very sincere that it caused Rikuo to wonder if this was the same Shou as the one in Niigata the day before.

"Or, since Rikuo-kun is so cute, you can come to my house to have another extra lesson," Shou added while winking teasingly that the girls squealed again enthusiastically as Rikuo blushed again at the vague invitation.

This guy is definitely the same as the Shou from yesterday!—Rikuo's mind screamed, totally horrified that Shou actually flirted with him inside the class! That perverted teacher!

"Nura-kun… you're like a magnet for strange guys…" Kiyotsugu said, sweat dropping while looking at Rikuo sympathetically.

"Maybe he gives out some kind of pheromone to attract peculiar guys?" Jirou commented as well. He had come in late so he didn't know about the ruckus in the morning and he also missed the introduction of the new teacher. He just came to him and apologized for being late and the young teacher let him sit after introducing himself briefly.

"Hey…!" Rikuo turned to face Jirou and Kiyotsugu indignantly.

"Well isn't that true? Before was a Yakuza member, then a yakuza boss, now a strange teacher?" Jirou made a list and Rikuo groaned because he couldn't object to that.

"Ah, but some girls are interested in Rikuo-kun too," Kana said quietly, fidgeting slightly. Yura silently agreed.

"Kyaaa, Nura-kun you're such a bad-bad boy~!" Natsumi was still squealing at this situation.

"No wonder he's gay… guys really love him…" Saori sighed deeply while saying, a tinge of sympathy in her tone.

"Ah, jeez… it's not like I'm doing it on purpose!" Rikuo protested again.

"Well, okay then. I think that will be all for today. I'll meet you guys again in the next English lesson," Shou tidied the papers and the attendance list before standing up. "You guys have ten minutes before the bell rings. It's a bonus for the first meeting. We will start the lesson for real the next time we meet. Don't forget to study hard, children!" he then waved as he walked to get out of the class.

"Ah, sensei, what about the greeting?" the class leader stood, attempting to stop Shou.

"Don't bother with it. As I say, I want you be your friend too. Good day!" Shou got out then, but he stopped before he closed the door. "Ah, I almost forgot," he poked his head inside again. "Rikuo-kun, you're invited to come to the office at the lunch break to have a friendly lunch together with sensei," he grinned.

"Wha—?" Rikuo flushed prettily in shock at that, widening his eyes. "No, thank you, Sensei, I already have companions for lunch today!" he refused vehemently, still blushing hard.

"Don't be shy. Maybe I'll give you extra lesson while we're having lunch," Shou winked again at Rikuo and the boy was speechless.

"Ah, not fair! I want to eat lunch with sensei too!" the girls in class then started to protest and moan at that.

"Then ladies can join too," Shou said before saying good bye with a teasing smirk.

"KYAAAAAA!" and the scream exploded at Shou's sexy invitation while he was walking away from class after closing the door.

Rikuo slumped back in his seat. "That teacher is nuts!" he said, covering his red face, still very embarrassed and annoyed.

"Well, you should tell him that you already have someone special," Jirou said, patting Rikuo's shoulder while chuckling.

"He's a teacher! He shouldn't make a pass to his own student!" Rikuo protested again.

"I think he's just teasing you, Nura-kun," Kiyotsugu also slapped Rikuo's back while laughing.

"It's not funny!" Rikuo huffed.

"But… a teacher/student relationship… kyaaah! Sounds so forbidden! So hooot!" Natsumi squealed again hysterically.

"Natsumi-chan… you sound like a fujoshi…" Saori patted Natsumi's head while chuckling, looking amused.

"Poor Rikuo-kun…" Kana commented, smiling ruefully.

"Maybe he should stop being so cute for his own good…" Yura also commented, but more tired than anything else.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

At lunch break~

"You're not going to have a lunch with Shou-chan?" Saori asked, already using the nickname for their new teacher as the Kiyo Cross Supernatural Investigation Squad was walking to the rooftop to have their lunch.

"Hmph, who would want to have a lunch with a pervert like him?" Rikuo huffed slightly, still annoyed at the teasing the light brown haired teacher gave him this morning.

"You really took that seriously," Jirou's sweat dropped at that.

"Well what do you expect? If a guy teases another guy like that, you'll start to wonder if he has some ulterior motives, right?" Rikuo protested, a bit cranky now. He was just worried because Shou seemed to know who he was, but then the teacher just teased him like it was normal to behave like that at school. He was dreading about the possibility if Shou would use that particular secret against Rikuo.

Anyway, who the hell was Keira Shou anyway? He seemed like a normal guy, but what was he up to?

"But Shou-chan is really popular and it's just the first day. How many guys and girls will he tease today?" Natsumi wondered as well.

"Who cares? I'll appreciate it if he just stays as far away as possible from me," Rikuo sighed in defeat. "It's bad enough I'm involved with Yakuza. I sure as hell don't want to get involved in something like teacher/student forbidden love affair," he shuddered unpleasantly at the thought of having another guy besides Rikuou touch him.

"True… Rikuo-kun has already had a lot of things on his platter," Kana spoke while sighing compassionately.

"What do you think, Keikain-san? This Rikuo with another guy thing has started to create more dramas in our high school life, right?" Jirou snickered at that.

"Hmm… too bad it's not our life but Rikuo-kun's, huh?" Yura said flatly, making everyone else, except Rikuo whose sweat dropped, wince at hearing that.

"Yura-chan seems having a lot of problems on her mind too, huh?" Kana said quietly beside Rikuo and Rikuo glanced at Yura. Indeed, she looked like she was thinking about something troubling.

Rikuo had assumed that she was still angry with him that she was so quiet, but looking closely, it seemed she was troubled by something. The glasses wearing boy felt bad that he was only thinking about himself that he missed the signs she emitted.

Arriving at the rooftop, they quickly sat down and shuddered as the wind blew. "COLD!" they said in unison.

"Aaah, it's not a right time to eat outside! It's late autumn after all!" Kiyotsugu slumped while crying slightly. "We should eat in the clubroom…"

"No! Who do you think cleans the clubroom every day after school? We'll mess up the room if we eat there," Rikuo protested.

"Rikuo-kun… why do you always clean our clubroom in the first place? That's the janitor's work…" Jirou asked, with a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.

"Of course because I want to, I want to help as many people as possible with small things like that," Rikuo answered as if it was the common sense.

"Only you will think that way…" Saori rolled her eyes.

"But, Nura-kun has always been like that since we're in elementary school, huh?" Natsumi wondered again.

"My mom taught me to always be helpful because that way… many people will like me," Rikuo said, smiling nostalgically. "I don't like it if people don't like me, so I'll do my best to make them at least see me as a good person," he said truthfully and then smiled genuinely, surprising the others.

They were silent for a moment before "You make an effort to make people like you?" Kiyotsugu asked, looking skeptical.

"I do," Rikuo said surely. "I was told that without effort, it's impossible to make people like us, so I make it my second nature to be helpful and care about the others as my effort to make them like me," he explained.

"Your second nature…" the others, except Yura murmured lowly at that.

"Then… if that's your second nature… what's your first nature, Rikuo-kun?" Yura asked then with somber and serious expression.

Everyone looked at Yura's direction in surprised looks and Rikuo who turned to her smiled ruefully and meaningfully at her that it clenched at her heart.

"What… what was that supposed to mean… Rikuo-kun?" Yura asked, looking afraid from some reasons.

"Well… I don't exactly have an answer for that, Yura-san…" Rikuo answered slowly and mysteriously that the others started to question themselves if they really knew Rikuo at all.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

After the last lesson was done and everyone had started packing to go home, two girls, a brunet and a blond, came to Rikuo's seat.

Rikuo looked upward at the girls who fidgeted nervously in front of him. "Yes?"

"Um… we're juniors from newspaper club," the brunet said slowly and Rikuo raised his eyebrows.

"I thought I said I didn't want to see you guys for a while," Rikuo said back.

"We know, but… we just want to apologize for what our club has done… We felt really bad after seeing you this morning, Senpai, so…" the other girl tried to explain and Rikuo just sighed at that.

"Look, what's done is done, so it can't be helped," Rikuo said again. "Just… don't do this anymore, not just to me, but to other people as well," he continued quietly.

"Of course, Senpai! Our chief is preparing our formal apology for tomorrow's publication…" the brunet said again and Rikuo gave them a small smile at that.

"You don't have to. It's fine. I'm just glad if you understand. That's enough for me," Rikuo said again, patting the juniors' head kindly and the girls blushed seeing his very nice smile.

"Ah… t-thank you, Senpai…" both of the girls said dazedly in unison at that and Rikuo just smiled more widely before he finished his packing and grabbed his bag to get out of the classroom to join his friends who had been waiting for him.

"You're being too nice to other people again," Kiyotsugu commented.

"They're our juniors and I'm not exactly angry with them anyway," Rikuo said, shrugging.

"Yeah, but you need to snap once in awhile too, Nura," Jirou suggested. "Holding in your anger isn't healthy," he continued.

"Thanks. I have plenty of chances to release it outside the school," Rikuo grinned.

What kind of release?—was in everyone's head at that moment, beads of sweat dropping from their heads.

"Rikuo!"

Someone's voice stopped the boys and girls who were walking down the corridor. Rikuo turned and found Gozumaru and Mezumaru there.

"Gozumaru, Mezumaru?" Rikuo blinked, not expecting to see them there.

"Let's go home together!" Mezumaru asked cheerily.

"Eh? Is that okay?" Rikuo asked, approaching the dark-blue haired boys to speak to them further.

Rikuo's classmates looked at each other in confusion since Rikuo and Gozumaru's exchange wasn't that different from usual.

"They just broke up, right? Why do they act as if nothing happened?" Saori asked with wide disbelieving eyes.

"Maybe they reconciled?" Natsumi guessed.

Rikuo then ran back to his classmates and said "Sorry, guys. I'll go home with Gozumaru and Mezumaru today," with a sheepish smile in his face.

"Eh? Why don't we walk home together?" Kana suggested.

"Ah… there are some things that Gozumaru wants to talk about. I need to save our friendship, somehow, so…" Rikuo looked at his friends hopefully so they would give in and let him go without asking too many questions.

"Ah," they looked at each other then. "Well, if it's important for you…" they agreed.

"Thank you! See you guys tomorrow!" Rikuo smiled happily and waved at them as he ran back to Gozumaru and Mezumaru to go home together.

0oo—Rikuou x Rikuo—oo0

"So… what about the ruckus this morning?" Gozumaru asked as they walked down the corridor to the other exit on the back of the school.

"It's solved. The newspaper club won't mess with us again," Rikuo said, grinning slightly.

"Oh, good… I don't know what you did, but at least we won't get any unwanted attention again," Mezumaru nodded in appreciation.

"It has nothing to do with you, Mezumaru," Gozumaru said.

"It so does have something to do with me. I'm your twin and we're always together. If you're the center of attention, I'll automatically be in the spotlight too," the boy with longer hair said, combing his hair back slowly.

"You actually look happy being in the center of attention," Rikuo said, sweat dropping.

"Ara, isn't that Rikuo-kun?"

Rikuo cringed as he heard the voice. He turned around slightly to find the perverted teacher behind him.

"Keira-sensei…" More beads of sweat prickled out his entire face. He was nervous seeing the teacher's smile.

"How coincidental, meeting you here. Are you going home too?" Shou asked sweetly.

"Yes," Rikuo replied slowly, inching to Gozumaru for protection lest the light-brown haired man suddenly did something inappropriate. After all, yesterday he had no problem in forcing his way to Rikuo, and Shou wasn't in the slightest embarrassed for flirting with him in front of the entire class.

"I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't have lunch with you this afternoon. How about I walk you home today?" Shou asked again, his light amber colored eyes glinting slightly in mischief.

"What the—?" Gozumaru frowned at that blatant seduction and Mezumaru was about to ask the teacher if he had lost his mind when Rikuo sneaked his hands to hold Gozumaru's arm to his chest, surprising the twins.

"Sorry, Sensei, but I will go home with my boyfriend today," Rikuo said, smiling sweetly as well at the teacher who raised his eyebrows at the unexpected reaction.

"Oh? I didn't expect that," Shou said slowly. "You already have a boyfriend… but you had a date with another man yesterday?" he asked, then making Gozumaru and Mezumaru gasp in surprise.

"You had a date with someone else?" Gozumaru asked in disbelief. He thought Rikuo was supposed with Rikuou now.

"Well, appearance can be quite deceiving, right, Keira-sensei?" Rikuo asked again, smirking slightly. "What do you want with me, sensei?" he asked, rather serious now.

"Oh, nothing… just to make sure that you are the person I think you are… Nura Rikuo-kun," Shou smiled again before he turned to leave. "Make sure you study hard in English, or you will really have to attend an extra lesson…" he then walked away while waving slightly.

After the teacher was out of sight, Rikuo sighed in relief.

"Wait a… what was that about?" Gozumaru asked, eyeing Rikuo's hands that were still on his arm rather uncomfortably.

"Oh, sorry for that, Gozu…" Rikuo noticed Gozumaru's look and released his arm slowly. "I just… that teacher made me really uneasy, so it was a spontaneous reaction. I hope you don't mind…" he looked at the taller boy's eyes sheepishly.

"I-it's fine… just… explain to me after we get home," Gozumaru averted his eyes, blushing slightly. Mezumaru looked at his twin apologetically.

"Okay…" Rikuo smiled again good-naturedly. "Let's just leave…"

The three boys then got out of the school grounds. On the way home, Rikuo couldn't help feeling that the teacher wasn't totally what he appeared to be, and that was what concerned him more than anything else…

Like always, Rikuo needed to speak to Rikuou as well about this matter…

End of Chapter 18

Tbc...

Additional Notes:

1)Keira Shou: a human name I picked for Shoukera. Yeah, it sounds a little weird, but I want his name to be peculiar for a certain purpose later ^_^

A/N: Ugh…finally! It took me so long to write this chapter. Sorry about that… T_T Even though I have the plot ready in mind and notes, to expand it is something else. I hope I can portray Rikuo's school life more in this fic as well, so I create some complications as well in his school. And, since it's Shoukera, you must have guessed what this will led Nura's brothers later, right? *grins*

Anyway, what do you think? I'll be waiting for your wonderful review! XD