He was going to do it. It had been seven months, three weeks, and two days since their fated meeting in the lunchroom. Actually she had been more interested in meeting his snake...but details were not important.

Ghara buttoned up his coat and smoothed his hair down. At first he had decided not to take Naga, lest the little well-meaning snake steal the scene, but then he had reconsidered. The snake had started it all and would likely be bonus points instead of a distraction. Using the ribbon he had borrowed from Rouge, without her knowledge of course, he tied a knot and slipped a piece of paper into it before doing his best with a bow around Naga's body. The snake, refusing to being bedecked with the ribbon, easily squirmed out of it.

"Not now," Ghara pleaded, stringing the bow onto Naga again.

She would be passing by any minute and he only had a few minutes before the next class. Hanging Naga on his neck, Ghara smiled brightly as Sakura rounded the corner.

"Hello," Ghara leaned against the tree by the sidewalk.

"Hi," Sakura waved.

"Do you have a minute?" Ghara tried to ignore the bead of sweat running down the side of his forehead.

"Just a moment," Sakura watched the others walk past as she approached Ghara. "It's not long before class you know."

"Yeah," Ghara smiled lopsided.

"Did you want to say anything?" Sakura looked up at him.

"Uh well...about...about t-that," Ghara ran a hand through his hair.

Nervous? Was he nervous? Him of all people nervous over a girl. He had spoken and flirted with hundreds of girls. He had defied death and stared at misery down the length of his katana. Why now was he so nervous?

"Yes?" Sakura asked, a smile forming on her lips.

Those beautiful red lips...Ghara shook himself. He needed to gather his thoughts. Give her Naga and let the snake do the talking. He smiled and reached up to get Naga.

His hand closed around thin air. Ghara felt around his neck desperately searching for Naga. Where was his snake? The key to his plans! Sakura's light giggle made him look up.

"I think Naga is up there," she pointed up at a tree branch, where Naga was sunning himself.

Ghara muttered something under his breath and reached up trying to pick Naga up. He couldn't do this without Naga.

"Its class time," Sakura said apologetically. "You can tell me after if you'd like!"

Ghara sighed as Sakura ran off. There went the girl, his opportunity, and the courage to approach her about his feelings. He glared up at Naga, who stared at him unblinkingly and unimpressed.

"Next time you can stay home," he muttered.

He was going to do it today. It had been exactly eight months since their fated meeting in the lunchroom.

This time Ghara wasn't going to depend on 'I would rather sunbathe than help my owner' Naga. He was going to tell her face to face. Clearing his throat, he rubbed his hands nervously up and down the sides of his legs. She would be coming in for lunch soon and he was ready to discuss his feelings over the slices of ham, potatoes, and something suspicious looking that they called gravy. Maybe it wasn't the most romantic of ideas, but his budget didn't exactly include a private wine and dine on some rooftop with a musician and butler.

That's what she deserved. Over the months he had noticed how kind and caring she was, seen how she had slowly come out of her shell. She liked trying new things. So perfect and sometimes it seemed, unattainable.

Ghara jerked himself out of his thoughts as the lunchroom door opened. Sakura stepped through, discussing a paper with her partner, Jazpeer. The latter Ghara had already determined to be in a friendship with Sakura, but nothing more, thankfully. Ghara didn't want a competition on his hands, especially when it was obvious who would win. Him.

"Sakura!" he waved at her with one hand, balancing his tray on the other.

"Hello Ghara," Sakura smiled, waving back.

She left the paper with Jazpeer and walked towards him. Straightening his shoulders, Ghara flashed her a winning smile. He had put extra effort into his appearance that morning, even to the point of wearing a shirt of a dark blue to accent his white coat. His team had noticed, Rouge commenting on how they didn't even know he owned shirts.

"How are you today?" Sakura asked.

"Same as ever," Ghara smiled.

"I'm glad," Sakura nodded. "Is there something you needed?"

"Mind if we eat lunch together?" Ghara asked.

"What about our teams?" Sakura queried.

"It's just one lunch," Ghara pointed out.

"True," Sakura nodded.

Sakura slid onto the bench, Ghara taking the seat beside her. He gathered his thoughts together, getting ready to reveal his feelings.

"How are you doing in classes?" Sakura asked.

"Good, good," Ghara said distractedly. "Sakura...I…"

"Yes?" Sakura looked up at him.

He stammered, her big teal eyes and soft features tying his tongue in knots.

"I…" he cleared his throat, ready to tell her.

A flash of movement caught his eye and instinctively he turned towards it. A plate, complete with mashed potatoes and gravy smashed into his face.

"Oh no!" Sakura jumped up.

Across the way Cally was flinging food at Sorva Quartz. They both had froze when the plate had hit Ghara.

There was no way he could talk to Sakura with a plate of food all over him. There was only one option left. Postpone the announcement and take his revenge.

He had to do it. It had been eight months, three weeks, and five days. The day was perfect, with just the right amount of wind and sunshine.

After his many failed attempts he wasn't going to allow today to be messed up. Rouge had helpfully suggested that if fate had gotten in the way this many times, maybe it was a sign. Ghara refused to believe it.

This time was near perfection. Sakura had agreed to walk with him back to the dorms. He straightened, smiling at Sakura.

"Sakura," he started.

"Yes?" Sakura looked up from her explanation of the Grimm Studies paper due in two days.

"I," Ghara licked his lips. "I like you."

"I like you too," Sakura looked puzzled.

"No," Ghara shook his head. "I mean...I like like you."

Sakura looked surprised, her mouth forming a perfect O. She started to say something, but the words didn't come out.

"It's alright if you don't like me back that way…" Ghara began.

"I…" Sakura began.

"LOOK OUT!"

Ghara turned around just as Richard and Robin sailed around the corner, Robin's glider zoomed over, Robin barely dodging. However the wing of the glider caught Ghara's coat. At that moment, not realizing Ghara was hooked, Robin caught the wind and pushed it, sending all three soaring up over the buildings. Sakura looked up frightened as Ghara sailed away, unsure what to do. After waiting a few minutes, Sakura turned and walked on to her dorm.

I wonder what Sakura would have said if Ghara hadn't...flown away...

Going to see RWBY Volume Five soon! I'm sure to come back with lots of ideas :D