Finally got down to starting on the next chapter, and I must say sorry in advance – I'm in a mood for fluff, so this chapter will probably contain a very clingy Taiga.
On the other hand, this will most likely be the most dramatic chapter so far in this story, depending on how I decide to write it.
I hope you enjoy. :3

It was a pretty place, Ryuuji couldn't exactly deny that. The weather was nice, with just a perfect amount of wind for his liking. The sand on the beach was light, and felt good to walk on.
Ryuuji was more used to beaches with pebbles everywhere, and that was simply painful to walk on, but this was something different indeed.

The beach was partially crowded, especially by people from their class. The beach was probably what most people were looking forward to when going on a trip.

"Ah," Ryuuji breathed contently as he slumped down on a towel placed under a parasol. Minori and Kitamura had already made their way into the water, flailing around. Ryuuji couldn't help but laugh a little at how they looked out there.

On a towel next to Ryuuji was Ami. Taiga stood by the edge of the water, just watching and laughing at Minori and Kitamura as they were tossed around by the waves.

"I honestly don't understand how you're able to keep up with that girl," Ami muttered with closed eyes, sounding rude as usual. Ryuuji looked over at her and scoffed.

"It's not like you need to understand either," he muttered before turning his gaze back to the scene in front of him. At the moment, Kitamura was trying hopelessly to crawl back onto land, but he was mercilessly pulled back by Minori.

"But it bothers me," Ami continued, "Whenever I see you, I get the feeling you're only with her to make sure she's not alone."
Ryuuji noticed that she almost sounded a little concerned, all of a sudden. "But you're hurting yourself by being with someone you don't want to be with."

Ryuuji looked at her for a moment. He just sized her up with his eyes, ending with glaring into her eyes with a totally unreadable expression. What was he looking for in her eyes? Sincerity?

"Then clearly," Ryuuji started, his voice soft and gentle. Before continuing, he turned his head to look back at Taiga who was smiling contently back at him from the edge of the water. "Then clearly you don't see everything all that well."

"What do you mean?" Ami huffed, her eyes open now, looking at Ryuuji. It was her time to size him up. She wanted to know if he was really truthful about everything he said.

"I used to think that I couldn't let Taiga be alone, because she'd only get hurt," Ryuuji started saying, "But I realized in the end that I couldn't let her be alone because I wanted to be with her."

"What are you even implying?" Ami spat, the usual 'Ami'-tone back in her voice. She wouldn't in the blink of an eye believe that a boy would actually prefer that pissed off little girl before her, and it was pretty obvious that she liked Ryuuji in more ways than just as a friend.

"Taiga is.." Ryuuji muttered, trying to find the right words. His voice had lowered a little, and he sounded utterly serious about whatever it was he was about to say. "Taiga needs my help, and I need hers," he said with a clearer voice, "I'll make sure she gets food, and she makes sure I have someone to care for other than just my mother. She makes sure I stay human."

He didn't even make any sense to Ami right now – No, more like, she didn't want to understand him. Why couldn't he like her instead? She was sure that she could make him, over time.

"I love Taiga," Ryuuji said with a smile, looking down at the ground. He didn't really realize he'd said it, it just slipped from his lips, and he didn't really care. Ami looked genuinely surprised now, and she was just about to open her mouth when Taiga came running towards them, Minori and Kitamura behind her.

"Heeelp!" Taiga exclaimed, jumping towards Ryuuji. It seemed Minori and Kitamura wanted to get Taiga into the water, but she didn't exactly want to herself, even though she was wearing a swimsuit now.
When she landed on Ryuuji's towel, she wrapped her arms around his waist and tried to hide from the 'evil people', as she'd muttered.

"Easy there," Ryuuji stuttered, a little surprised. Taiga had placed herself on top of Ryuuji. She lay over his stomach, her elbows resting on his chest as she smirked up at him.

"How's your eye?" She asked, her voice soft and caring. She really did change around Ryuuji sometimes.

"It's better," Ryuuji replied, not sounding too bothered with it. He was a little blue around the eye, but it was hard to notice. Taiga murmured something as she nuzzled her nose into his shirt.

"Sorry," her muffled voice sounded. Ryuuji rolled his eyes a little, a grin pulling at his lips.

"Don't worry about it," Ryuuji added, stroking the top of Taiga's head with his palm. He slowly rummaged her hair back and forth, earning a contented mutter from the girl.
Ami looked over at them, and she noticed a look in Ryuuji's eyes that she hadn't really seen before. Maybe it really was love. 'Hey, Ryuuji. Does your heart race when close to her, as mine does when close to you?'

"Maybe we should throw them both in," Minori whispered to Kitamura, a cunning look on her face. He nodded in agreement, adjusting his glasses over his nose.

"On 3," he muttered, making himself ready. Minorin smiled evilly, taking a step forward. "1," Kitamura smiled, closing up on the two. They didn't see it coming. "2."

"What are you two..?" Ami started, but stopped herself once she saw what they were doing. This was going to be fun.

"3!" Kitamura shouted, pouncing forwards. Minorin did the same, picking up Taiga into her arms. Taiga started screaming uncontrollably, knowing what would come next. At the same time, Kitamura grabbed Ryuuji and started pulling him towards the water. He was definitely stronger than the blue-haired boy.

"Yûsaku, you-" Ryuuji grunted, trying to tear out of his grip. At this rate, he would get his shirt soaked. He heard a loud scream, which then got muffled by the sound of splashing water.
'Taiga!' He screamed inwardly. 'I'm joining you!'

He was slung into the air, actually pretty surprised by Kitamura's strength, though he didn't have much time to think about it before he broke the surface of the water. The taste of salt seeped into his mouth, but he managed to keep as much water out as possible.

He purposely stayed under for a while, letting the water seep through his t-shirt and bathing shorts. It was refreshing, though being tossed into water wasn't the most pleasant feeling, especially not after the incident in the swimming pool that one time.

After about 10 seconds, he decided to go back up. He was totally prepared for this to happen, in fact, and so he had removed everything from his pockets before going to the beach.
When he came up, he was instantly pushed back down by a playful Taiga.

"Got you!" She exclaimed, laughing, hanging onto his back. Ryuuji started losing his balance, flailing his arms.

"I'm- I'm falling!" He muttered, tilting backwards. Taiga screamed a little before she fell under with Ryuuji. Not after long, they both breached the surface again, gasping for air.

"Idiot!" Taiga screeched, jumping on Ryuuji again, this time from the front. She bit down on his shoulder, playfully.

"It's not my fault!" Ryuuji retorted, his breath hitching when Taiga bit him.
Taiga giggled as she lowered herself back into the water. It was close enough to land for her to stand, the water only reached her thighs.

"Hey!" They heard Kitamura calling from afar. They turned until they saw him, with Minori, standing on a giant, flat rock. "This place is great!" He exclaimed.

Taiga hesitated. "I'm not sure if-"

"Here." Ryuuji said hurriedly, turning his back to her. He held his arms behind his back, waving them. Taiga looked at him for a moment, bewildered.

"I'll carry you," Ryuuji added, smiling. Taiga giggled a little and jumped on his back. "Hold on tight," Ryuuji said as he started swimming. It was about 30 meters out to the rocks, and carrying Taiga out there was no big deal. When they got there, Ryuuji held onto one of the rocks so that Taiga could step on his head and get up on it.

"Up you go," Kitamura laughed as he pulled at Ryuuji's arm, helping him up. It was a nice view from out there, looking in at the beach. The water had stilled, and only a few drops splashed up on the rocks once in a while.

"Oy!" Minori exclaimed as she saw someone else swimming out to them. To Ryuuji's big surprise, it was Ami. She was a good swimmer, after all. It didn't take her long to reach them and get up on the rocks.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" She asked, catching her breath. Ryuuji just shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't know. Seemed interesting."

"Oh well, works for me."

They didn't do much. They chatted for a while, sitting on the edge of the rocks, dipping their feet into the water. Even Ami enjoyed herself.

After about 30 minutes, the waves got higher, and they decided they should get back before it got bad.
Ryuuji and Taiga were the last to go, since Ryuuji still had to carry her over.

It was then it happened. All too quickly, at that.
"Taiga," Ryuuji said as he turned around to face her. She looked a little nervous.
"Let's-" he stopped. Everything stopped. Out of nowhere, there was a huge wave sweeping over the rock, towards Taiga. She even had her back turned, and couldn't see it at all.

"Shit!" Ryuuji exclaimed, throwing himself towards Taiga. He barely managed to shield Taiga with his arms before the wave swept over them, slamming Ryuuji back first into the edge of the rock before pulling him into the water.

He still held on to Taiga. He'd shielded her with his body, and he got hurt in the process.

…

"Where's Aisaka-san and Takasu-kun?" Kitamura asked as they reached land. He couldn't see them in the water, or by the rocks. After scouting for a while, he saw something appearing by the side of the rock.

…

"Ryuuji!" Taiga cried, holding onto his limp body. She clamped her hands down on his shoulders, trying to hold him up. To a tiny girl like her, it was hard to carry him even in the water. They were constantly being rummaged around by the waves.

"Ryuuji," Taiga muttered again, sounding completely terrified. She felt a warm substance by her hands, and a red essence floated out into the water. 'Blood!'

…

"RYUUJI!"

They heard the scream. They heard it so well.
"Yû!" Minori shouted, looking over at him.

"Mi!" He nodded, and they both hurriedly made their way back into the water. They quickly swam towards the two figures in the water. None of them needed to think, they just acted on pure instinct.

…

'Please, don't die,' Taiga thought, tears flowing down her face and mixing with the salt water. 'You can't die like this, not for me!'

"Taiga!" Minori shouted, grabbing her arm and pulling her away from Ryuuji, as Kitamura quickly grabbed his body and started swimming it towards land.
"It's going to be okay, just stay calm!" Minori exclaimed, staring into Taiga's eyes. It was too late for that, obviously, as Taiga was panicking. Minori simply hauled her up on her back and made way back to the beach.

…

"Make way!" Kitamura shouted as he pulled Ryuuji up on land, hurriedly tearing off his shirt to check out the wound. It was just a little fling, definitely nothing to worry about, but Ryuuji was still blacked out.

"Ryuuji!" Taiga screamed as her and Minori reached the beach. She ran towards him, collapsing by his side, onto her knees. Kitamura was already next to him, still checking for other wounds. 'Please, don't let him have damaged his skull,' He prayed to himself as he looked him over.

Taiga shook uncontrollably as she put a finger to Ryuuji's neck. Of course he wasn't dead, she thought, but she felt that she should do it anyway. She ran her finger over the side of his neck, not completely remembering where to put it, but she remembered quickly.

"Here," she muttered, pressing her finger towards the spot.

"…"

"Taiga?" Ami asked, as she was standing behind them.

"I-impossible.."

Woah, that turned out even more dramatic than I'd planned. And cliffhanger, too! I'm not used to writing dramatic things, and especially not with my OTP.
I do indeed have an ulterior motive, though. Something fluffy.

-Hysterical evil laugh-