Man this chapter was tough! Hope you enjoy it!

Chapter Nine

As Noriko put the dagger on her desk when she heard a knock at her door. She spun around to see Ryuji in some of Rin's clothing. He had on a white tank top and a pair of black basketball shorts. His hair was slicked back from the rain and she could see his toned stomach and chest through the almost see through tank top. While she was in a pair of her pajamas, her red short shorts and a large black tshirt.

She blushed and said, "Hey…"

"Hey… How are you holding up?" he asked while he leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms.

"Fine I guess… They passed away about a month ago… the ceremony was finally passed last week...Ya…" Noriko said as she comed through her silver locks with her brush. Some of the water droplets landed on her shirt and the floor.

Ryuji pushed himself off the wall and said, "Come on, there's a surprise for you downstairs."

Noriko blinked and gave him a curious look. Ryuji rolled his eyes and motioned for her to follow him. She tossed her hairbrush on the bed and followed him. As they went downstairs, she had a feeling that this was going to be a good surprise; and it was. When she got downstairs, she saw everyone smiling and a sign that wished her happy birthday. Everyone yelled happy birthday to her and shot confetti from small bottles that popped. Noriko smiled, small tears forming in her eyes from their celebration to her. The only people she celebrated her birthday with was her parents. Other kids didn't want to be around her because she always said she could see monsters and scare away the kids. And as a teen, she would stay quiet and no one bothered to know her. So seeing this with people she just met over a month ago, caring that she was here with them, and happy to see her made her heart throb. Ryuji smiled at her reaction and gave her shoulder a squeeze.

"You guys… why… I… thank you." Noriko said as she fought to keep the tear away.

Rin and Yukio walked up to her and gave her a group hug, and that then led to a bigger group hug as everyone joined in. Everyone laughed and separated from the big group hug.

"We didn't want to leave you on a sad day, so we all decided to make this the greatest birthday party you ever have." Rin said as he held up a small box that was wrapped in white paper and had a blue ribbon around it.

Noriko smiled, looking at everyone she said, "I… can't thank you enough… you guys are the best!"

She slowly opened the present and saw a small necklace that had a small jar and a note inside that said, "It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.

Ralph Waldo Emerson." Noriko laughed and hugged Rin.

As everyone gave her gifts, her heart felt like it was going to explode from gratitude. Shemie gave her a potion that helped with sleep. Yukio gave her a sketchbook and a set of pencils. Shima gave her a gift card to a music shop that was popular in the city. Izumo gave her a card that had a lot of writing inside of it. Noriko looked it over and saw that it was talking about how she didn't know her that well and thanked her for getting her and Shima together. Finally, Konekomaru gave her a tiny cat statue that would bring good luck. When she thanked everyone, they had some cake and chat in the kitchen.

"Wow… so you've never had an official birthday party with friends and stuff?" Shima asked in shock.

Noriko smiled and said, "Ya… it was just me and the folks… So what do you normally do at parties?"

She bit into the sweet cake and her taste buds exploded from the sweetness, as well as everyone in the room.

"Well at the monastery, everyone would dress up as Santa Claus and go around the neighborhood singing carols and -" Rin was interrupted when Shiemi covered his mouth with her hand and said, "I wouldn't listen to him. Both him and Yukio's birthdays are two days after Christmas so they also never really experienced a birthday party as well."

Everyone laughed and each told their stories of what they would do when it was their birthday. She was amazed at some of the celebrations and smiled. She looked around and saw everyone having a good time, Rin and Shima were laughing about something perverted while Izumo and Shiemi talked about nonsense. Konekomaru laughed at Shima and Rin, and Ryuji smirked while he leaned against the farthest wall. Noriko smiled when Ryuji caught her looking at him, making him blush and look away. She smiled and then her thoughts went to her parents, she knew they were watching over her and her friends. Hoping that they saw that she was in great care by her new friends. She closed her eyes and sighed as she felt a warm presences around her, a tear shed from her eye, quickly wiping it off before anyone saw. As the party went on, the day started to get late and everyone had other things to do, which Noriko didn't mind. She was able to get to know the other students more and learn their personality. Noriko got everyone's clothes out of the dryer and let them change before they left. Shima and Izumo had a date planned, Rin promised Shiemi that he would help around at her garden, Konekomaru had to go to the library to help someone on some homework, and Yukio was called in from work. Leaving Ryuji and Noriko alone. She sighed as she sat on the couch and rubbed her temples. It was a long day and she didn't expect it to get this emotional. Ryuji sat next to her and sighed as well, cracking his neck and fingers. She glanced over at him and saw that he looked as tired as she was. His eyelids were getting heavy and he kept having to blink to stay awake.

"You should probably head out too, you look like you're about to pass out at any moment. Did you get enough sleep last night?" she asked.

Ryuji groaned and said nervously, "Not really… I was busy… doing stuff."

Noriko could see through his lie, she turned her body towards him and gave him a look that said yeah-right. He groaned and said, "Just… close your eyes and… put your arm out."

Noriko blushed a little and obeyed his commands. He pulled the bracelet out from his pocket and slid it on her wrist. He looked at her face and saw how close he was. Her face peaceful looking, her cheeks shaded in a light pink, and her soft lips looking so… kissable. Ryuji started to lean forward and Noriko was wondering what was taking so long and decided to open her eyes, shocked at what she saw. Ryuji's face was inches from hers, his nose touching hers and his breath tickling her lips. His body was leaning forward, an arm rested on the side of her and a hand came up to cup her cheek. Noriko froze for a second and quickly licked her lips, Ryuji caught her action and went in for the kill. When their lips touched, a shock went through both of them. Noriko sighed into the kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, playing with the hair at the nape of his neck. Ryuji groaned and kissed her harder, pushing her body more into the couch so he was lying on top of her but not so much to crush her. One arm supported him and the other was bringing Noriko's head closer to his, not wanting her to pull away. Their lips crushing into one another and following the same movements. Noriko groaned at the intimate position they were in and decided to quickly stop it before they went any further. She pushed his chest and broke away, gasping in the needed air. Ryuji and her were red as a tomato, he smiled down at her and then realized what happened.

He jumped off the couch and said, "Oh my God, I-I'm so sorry! I just- I-" he ran his hands through his hair and breathed in and out, trying to calm himself.

Noriko blinked and looked down at what he had put on her wrist. She saw that it was a bracelet similar to his, but had a silver thread keeping everything together. As she looked at the detail in the bracelet, he looked over to see her focused on his present.

"It… it will keep you protected… even though you don't really need any since you're stronger than Okumura and-" Ryuji was cut off when Noriko interrupted him.

"I love it. There is so much detail in the beads and I love the color. Thank you." she said with a smile.

Ryuji blushed and looked away, she smiled and got up from the couch and walked towards him, making him nervous as he looked out the nearby window. She hugged him from behind, wrapping her hands around his built torso and clasping her hands together. Ryuji gulped loudly, blushing from head to toe.

"Hi- Hitomi?!"

"Noriko, call me Noriko from now on Ryuji." she said with a slight blush.

Ryuji blinked and looked down at her hands that were clasped together right below his chest. She laid her head on the back of his shoulder blade and sighed. Noriko gasped when Ryuji spun around and hugged her properly. His arms wrapping tightly around her waist, his head in between her neck and shoulder. She smiled and did the same. They stayed like for what felt like an hour but was only a few minutes. Ryuji pulled back and rested his forehead against hers with a sigh.

"So… what made you want to kiss me?" Noriko asked with a grin and slight blush on her face.

Ryuji blushed and smiled, "What didn't make me want to kiss you?! God, Noriko… honestly… you're amazing."

Noriko blushed and pecked him on the lips, making him blush more from her actions.

"I… I like you too."

As they were about to kiss again, there was a knock at the main door, making them both jump and look at the door.

"Hey, Noriko! I forgot my key and wallet, can you let me in?!" Rin yelled through the door.

Noriko rolled her eyes and sighed, "Dammit Rin!" she whispered.

Ryuji chuckled, he gently grabbed Noriko's chin and brought her face to his. Giving her a kiss, he pulled away and whispered, "I'll see you later. Good night, Noriko."

She blushed and watched as Ryuji grabbed his things and opened the door to see an irritated Rin.

"What the hell are you still doing here rooster?!"

"Shove it Rin, we were just talking. See ya later loser." he said while walking away from a pissed off Rin.

Noriko chuckled and crossed her arms, looking at Rin she said, "Really? The most two important things and your little brain couldn't remember? Poor thing."

Rin glared at her and huffed, "Whatever."

She smiled and walked over to ruffle his hair, which made him more irritated. Saying good night, she went up to her room and flopped on the bed. Blushing when she replayed the kissing scene in her head a million times. Noriko blushed and hid her face in the pillow. The next day was going to be really interesting.