Hey! Sorry for the slight delay, but i've been ill and super busy plus my little sister kinda stole my laptop (i know, little sisters SUCK) so it took a while to type up.

Never mind about that anyway. Enjoy the chapter!

P.s loads of you loved Yoshiki's bish slap. It's totally canon of course.

well, that would make it better if it was canon. *sigh*

All of the girls stared at Yoshiki in absoloute shocked horror. It was unheard of for a boy to slap anyone, especially a girl! Ayumi had also joined the opened mouthed club, which was gaining even more members as people started to point and whisper. The girl that had just been slapped glared at him, rubbing her sore cheek and sniveling, reminding Ayumi of a child who'd just been told off. She half expected Yoshiki to apoligise all gentleman like, but he just shot the girl he'd just slapped a warning glare of hatred, and pushed through the hushed crowd, pulling Ayumi by her wrist. As she reluctantly followed, Ayumi sent the girls a dismayed look of apoledgy, genuinely startled herself by his sudden outburst. However they just shunned her look, and walked away, whispering in a huddle.

"What was that for?" asked Ayumi, anger rising in her voice. "You didn't have to go and hit her!"

"Oh yeah?" snapped Yoshiki and they walked into the empty hallway. "I was trying to protect you!"

"From what exactly?! They were just gossips, plain old gossips-"

"Ugh, I don't think you'll ever understand..." moaned Yoshiki, thumping his fist against the nearby wall, a tense look in his frustrated steely eyes.

"No I don't!"

"They were being mean to you, right?" he began, facing her with his mouth set in a thin line. "I stopped them. You should be greatful Ayumi!"

"Grateful?" Ayumi almost laughed at the thought. "Do you know how embaressing that was? It's just going to feed them more fuel for gossiping, and do you know what could of happened if a teacher saw us?"

They stood facing each other, their eyes focused on one another's with an almost magnetic connection. Even though Yoshiki's eye brows were furrowed, and his pale lips umsmiling, Ayumi couldn't help but feel a fuzzy feeling deep inside. It wasn't right!

"Anyway," Ayumi eventually managed to break the awkward, unwanted silence that surrounded them like a cloud. "We should do some last minute studying, if you still want to pass..."

Quickly, she turned on her heel, arms crossed stubbornly across her chest. She made way for the study area, pretending that she didn't care if Yoshiki was still with her, however of course she wanted him to follow her. She didn't have to worry for long though, since after a few quiet steps she could here muttering and the sound of his shoes against the tiles behind her. He wouldn't of gotten very far without her anyway; Kisaragi was big, and although Yoshiki was tall, he was no match for an unfamiliar building like the school.

She entered the study area, not bothering to keep the door open for him, but of course he didn't explain. Her eyes had turned cold and distant as she set up a table, and completly ignored Yoshiki's inquisitive eyes scanning all around her.

"Look, I-"

"Shut up," she snapped rudely, pushing a text book at him. There were two small groups of student, and each and every one of them were staring at her, as for the news of Yoshiki's slap had spread around the school as quickly as a wildfire. "Get on with with it."

Yoshiki's lips hardened in a straight line. He hated to be treated this way, but he didn't want to anger Ayumi much more, so relcutantly picked up a pencil, chewing the end like a school boy, and began reading over the notes he had made, some with Ayumi, which were neat, and the others unorginised and messy. It wasn't long before everyone else had left the study room, since the aptmosphere was awfully tense, and no one could fully concerntrait, including Ayumi who was trying to catch up with some extra study she had missed whilst she had been tutoring Yoshiki in her free time.

"Why are you being like this?" Yoshiki asked, a hurt tone in his usually carefree tone. "What have I done to deserve the cold shoulder?"

"Huh," muttered Ayumi, her eyes sliding away from his. "And you ask me. You can't just slap someone, you know, even if it was in my defence. Its not just."

"Oh yeah?" he shouted, glaring at her. "I couldn't stand the way she was treating you! Did you expect me just to watch as she cut your self esteem down, with that dirty smirk on her face?"

"No, I think-"

"You know what, I don't care what you think anymore." he said quietly, looking at her with shiny, hurt eyes. "I was just trying to protect you. And I won't stop."

"I appericate it you know," she told him after a slight pause to think. "I just wish you were less rash, and learnt to think before you act!"

"I'm like that. You should know."

"I've only known you, for what, a month?"

"That doesn't matter!" he cried, fixing his grey eyes on her azure ones, that still had a hint of confused coldness in them. "That doesn't mean I'm going to change the way I fell, Ayumi, I -"

DING DONG.

The bell had rang for the second peirod. There was a brief, ear piercing screech as the microphone started up, and soon enough the voice of the assistant principal could be heard from the speakers attached to the corners of every wall.

"Can all people taking the entrance exam for this academic year for Kisiragi, please make their way to the Exam Hall, class 4-2. I repeat, please can all potential students make their way to the Exam Hall. Everyone else please go to your next lesson as normal. There is one class room change, but it should be on your planner anyway. Thank you, good luck and have a nice day!"

A nice day, huh, Ayumi thought. It hadn't really started that well for her and Yoshiki!

"You were saying?" continued Ayumi, packing her books back into her satchel.

"Oh, it doesn't matter now," he replied, also putting away his stuff though he did look quite disappointed. "Can you tell me where the Exam Hall is?"

"Sure," she said, leading him out of the room. "Fortunately, it's just down that corridor on the left."

"Thanks." Yoshiki grinned, though inside he didn't feel to happy. "I mean it."

"Oh it's not problem. I actually have to go to history now, and it's on the other side of the building sorry. Bye!"

Ayumi dashed down the corridor, her pale cheeks burning furiously. What was making her blush so badly? Eventually, after avoiding various gossipy girls and rough groups of boys, she made her way down to the classroom, where she shared history with Naomi, Mayu and Morishige. Morishige hadn't arrived yet, and by the look of it, Naomi and Mayu were having a good chat without her. Would it really bother them if she joined in?

"Hey," she greeted them, with a small grin. Miracously, both Mayu and Naomi smiled back, showing no uncertaninty or disgust. They had probably heard the rumors, but didn't really care, thank god.

"We were just talking about that new boy, Kishinuma, is it?" giggled Mayu.

"Yeah, it is." comformed Ayumi, surprising herself of how proud she sounded.

"Ooh, Shinozaki, I saw him walking with you! What a good class rep for taking him under your wing!" added Naomi, with a beam.

"Well, of course it's my duty!" laughed Ayumi, trying not to sound too concieted.

"Mmm, But I have to say you looked very close!"

"Teehee, maybe Ayumi's finally got someone. They did look like an item!"

"No," said Ayumi flatly, though she couldn't ignore the pink blush creeping to her cheeks. "I just wanted to help him of course, he's just like any newbie. I treat everyone the same!"

She tried her best to sound serious, but Naomi burst out laughing, and even Mayu couldn't stop a giggle or too escaping her pale pink lips.

"You can go on double dates now," Mayu suggested, waving to Morishige as the glasses wearing boy came into view.

"More like triple dates," sniggered Naomi, and she saw Morishige's eyes light up at the sight of his little but very close friend. "Your 'dear shige-nii!"

"We're not like that!" insisted Mayu, going red as a rose. "But...do you really think he like, like-likes me?"

"Of course he does! It's skinny love..." Naomi said with a sigh.

"What did you mean by double dates?" Ayumi asked Mayu, her lips pursed. Did that mean that Naomi was dating someone now?

"Huh? Hurry up guys, everyone else is going in!"

Ayumi entered that history lesson with curiousity taking over her. What had Mayu meant by 'double dates' ? She was certainly not dating Yoshiki, but Naomi on the other hand, could probably get any guy she wanted with a figure like hers. She was extremely pretty, after all. But she couldn't get the awful feeling at the pit of her stomach, that Naomi was dating someone, who Ayumi had a lust for. But she wouldn't, not without boasting to her, or at least mentioning it! However, Naomi rarely liked to talk about herself, she much prefered learning about others, or so she liked to say.

Could Naomi be dating Satoshi?

Yes. Dumbass