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Second story in the "Mercer Universe". This was originally supposed to a Valentines' Day fic but due to circumstances outside of my control (being stranded by Jetblue in NYC during the middle of the Valentines' Day storm) it never got loaded on fanfiction.net and never would have been but I wrote a third story related to this series and had to upload it so the new story would make sense. So here it is, part one (because this site makes me split it up to load)

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Tug

She tried to ignore the annoyance to her right and concentrate on the question in front of her.

Tug

But that was becoming increasingly hard.

Tug

“You know it’s really hard to concentrate when you are doing that,” Kimiko snapped narrowing her eyes but refusing to look in her annoyance’s direction.

“Your hair is pretty. Did you know that? Has it always been this shiny? And how do you get it to do this little curl thing on the bottom?”

“I’m so glad you finally noticed!” Kimiko said with fake enthusiasm. “I started using pretty potion the other day!”

“Really? Is that a kind of shampoo?” Rai asked as he curled the end of her pigtail around his finger. He was interrupted in his admirations by a sudden smack upside the head. “What was that for?” he asked rubbing the now sore spot.

“I’m trying to concentrate and you are making it very hard to do,” Kimiko said in a low voice noticing the eyes around the library that were now looking in their direction.

“Sorry,” Rai said in a sad sounding voice suddenly looking crestfallen. Kimiko felt herself soften and was about to consol Raimundo when a balled up piece of paper bounced off her forehead.

“You’re back in the dog house,” Kimiko said turning back to her economics’ book.

“Don’t be mad Kim,” Rai said leaning closer.

“Oh man, I can’t take this anymore,” a new voice said surprising both Rai and Kimiko. They looked across the table to where Clay and Keiko sat forgotten by the two in love teens.

“Don’t be hatin Keiko,” Rai said dramatically wrapping his arm around Kimiko who rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be talkin like you’re from da hood Rai,” Keiko said in a horrible accent as she packed up her books, “I’m out of here.”

“I’m with Keiko on this one,” Clay said with a smile and started shoving things into his bag.

“Guys you don’t have to leave,” Kimiko argued shoving Rai’s arm from off her shoulders.

“It’s cool,” Keiko said with a smile and a wave as she and Clay disappeared from sight. Kimiko frowned as she watched the two go and then turned to glare at Raimundo who was leaning back on his chair and trying to balance a pencil on his fingertip.

“Way to be Rai,” Kimiko said unhappily.

“Yeah, me likes, now we’re alone,” Rai said sidling closer. Kimiko groaned and shoved him away. Unfortunately she forgot that Rai was unbalanced on his chair and the teen boy tumbled over with a loud bang that gained the attention of anyone not already watching the two. Kimiko flinched and froze at the noise, glancing down at her boyfriend who was currently tangled in the legs of the chair.

“Is there a problem Ms. Tohomiko? Mr. Pedrosa?” the chilling voice of the librarian asked. Kimiko immediately sat up straighter and Raimundo somehow managed to make it back into his chair in record time.

“No problem Ms. Wuya,” Rai said picking is book up and pretending to read, not noticing it was upside down. Kimiko groaned and buried her face in her text book.

“Be that as it may,” Wuya said, “I think you two had better leave.” Kimiko bit her tongue and quickly collected her things before she and Rai left silently. Once in the hallway Raimundo began to laugh and Kimiko’s eyes narrowed.

“What is so funny?” Kimiko asked angrily.

“Ah lighten up Kim,” Rai said stepping closer to her. Kimiko just turned up her nose and began to walk away.

“You aren’t seriously mad are you?” Rai asked surprised.

“No,” Kimiko admitted stopping to look back as he caught up. “Just annoyed I guess.”

“Why?”

Kimiko gave him a look that clearly asked ‘are you that stupid?’

“I’m having enough trouble with Economics and it’s only like the fourth week of classes,” Kimiko said, “I need to concentrate on that. And you, unfortunately, are very distracting.”

“I take that as a complement,” Rai said grabbing her hand in his and giving it a squeeze. As she had since they’d started going out shortly before Christmas Kimiko melted at Raimundo’s every touch and glance. Not that she hadn’t before they’d been going out but now he did it often and on purpose, not seeming to be able to get enough of her. After he’d found her in Central Park the day that Winter Break began it seemed that Raimundo couldn’t stop himself from kissing her, holding her hand, or touching her in someway. They’d spent three blissful days together at the school before spending Christmas with Jermaine’s family and then finally flying to Tokyo to spend New Year’s and the rest of the holiday with Kimiko’s father. Both Kimiko’s father and the Pedrosas seemed more then ecstatic over Raimundo and Kimiko finally getting together. And they had used that term a lot, so had their friends when they told them. It seemed all they ever heard when someone found out was ‘it’s about time’.

When they’d arrived back at school their friends had of course known and most of the school seemed unsurprised as well. Kimiko would never forget the look on Dyris’s face when she’d first seen the two walking hand and hand down the hallway together. It had been strangely satisfying and so far, besides some mean whispers from Dyris and the members of Raimundo’s fan club, their time at school had just been continued bliss. So lost in thoughts of the past few weeks Kimiko almost missed what Raimundo asked at they walked through the empty halls of the school, heading for the dorms.

“Sorry Rai, what did you say?” Kimiko asked.

“Lost in lala land?” Rai joked.

“Just thinking about the last few weeks,” Kimiko told him with a tiny smile.

“One of my favorite subjects,” Rai said with a smirk.

“Oh? And what’s your favorite?” Kimiko asked coyly. Rai just smirked again before pulling them to a stop and tugging her hand so she turned to face him. The pull almost threw her off her feet but Rai was ready, his hands on her shoulders to hold her still as his mouth moved onto her for a long, sweet kiss.

“That,” he told her pulling away and taking her hand again.

“You could have just said,” Kimiko said in a mock grumpy voice, debating whether or not she liked the fact that he could do that to her so easily.

“Yeah but showing is more fun,” Rai said with a laugh and then continued, “and I asked why you were even taking economics in the first place.”

“I need to be ready to help my day with the company some day and economics seems like a good place to start,” Kimiko said with a shrug.

“But if it’s boring then why do you do it?” Rai asked.

“Not all of us can be so gifted and lucky that we can do what we want, like you and you’re writing,” Kimiko said with a laugh.

“I have good inspiration,” Raimundo said winking in her direction. He’d been writing like a mad man the past few weeks and he knew that his relationship with Kimiko was to thank for that.

“Stop, you’re making me blush,” Kimiko said with mock embarrassment.

“You’re cute when you’re blushing,” Raimundo said wagging a finger in her direction.

“You’re cute in general,” Kimiko said as the entered the lounge area that connected the two dorms.

“We can’t escape them anywhere!” a yell snapped Raimundo and Kimiko back to attention. Keiko and Clay were sitting at a couch bent over their work but were now joined by Omi and Jack Spicer. Raimundo and Kimiko blushed in embarrassment but Raimundo recovered first.

“Ahh are you jealous Keiko,” Rai said walking over to Keiko and leaning over the back of the couch, “cause there’s plenty of love to go around.” He started making kissing noises and nearly bit his tongue in two when Kimiko smacked him upside the head for the second time that day. “Girl you’re lucky I like you!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kimiko said unloading her own books and joining the others. “Now Spicer, you’re in my economics class. Does any of this make sense to you?”

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Kimiko groaned the next morning as she exited that class room.

“That good?” Keiko asked joining her. Kimiko only lifted her quiz paper for Keiko to inspect who looked at Kimiko oddly. “It’s a C+, what’s wrong with that?”

“That’s not good for me,” Kimiko snapped, “especially not in this class.” Keiko held her hands up defensively.

“Don’t take this out on me,” Keiko said as they walked on and Kimiko let her head hang down.

“I’m sorry Keiko but I’m trying to prove something here,” Kimiko apologized as they reached their lockers. Keiko spun the dial on hers idly.

“Which I don’t get. If you hate Economics so much why are you taking it? And I know, know,” Keiko cut Kimiko off, “you want to help your Dad at his company someday. But you know you don’t have to.”

“But I want to,” Kimiko said pulling her locker open and began exchanging books, “and world economics will help with that.” Kimiko paused and checked to make sure the coast was clear before continuing. “Plus, I didn’t tell Rai this but my dad said that if my grades suffer while I’m going out with Rai that he might have to say something about it.”

“That’s no fair,” Keiko said with a frown.

“I know but if I prove that I can do well in a class that I don’t like and apparently don’t understand then my dad might lay off,” Kimiko suddenly looked at Keiko and realize something, “aren’t you going to get your books?”

“Nah,” the other girl said with a shrug, “I’ve got calculus next but feel a headache coming on.”

“Funny thing those headaches of yours,” Kimiko said with a smile, “they always seem to show up right around classes you don’t like.” Keiko grinned sheepishly before shrugging again.

“You deal with classes you don’t like by going to class and diligently taking notes. I deal with them by napping in the nurse’s office.” Keiko’s expression suddenly soured. “Harpy alert.” Kimiko turned to where Keiko was looking and saw Dyris and her cronies rounding the corner. Her encounters with Dyris had been limited but they were in the same year together so they were bound to run across each others’ paths at some point in time. Dyris glared as she approached the two, flanked on either side by two girls that had been her best friends, and near perfect copies, before she’d stopped having time for them when going out with Rai. Now that Dyris was single again it seemed she’d taken them back on. Kimiko just shut her locker and waited for the girl to pass but was unpleasantly surprised when she stopped behind her. Beside her Kimiko felt Keiko bristle and take a defense step forward as Kimiko turned to face the auburn haired girl. She knew that a meeting like this was inevitable, she’d just hoped it would happen more toward graduation.

Kimiko folded her arms and slightly pursed her lips as she waited for Dyris to speak. As she waited those passing in the hall paused to watch and a few stopped all together. Before Rai was dating Dyris the unspoken animosity that Dyris had for Kimiko was well known throughout the school. Kimiko, for her part, didn’t know what she’d done to make Dyris hate her at first but didn’t go out of her way to remedy it. When Dyris and Raimundo had started going out Kimiko had sucked it up and Dyris seemed to put up with her. Now that Kimiko was going out with Raimundo and after the “chain incident”, Kimiko wasn’t sure what to expect. When nothing progressed past their staring match Kimiko just rolled her eyes and turned to walk away.

“Kimiko,” Dyris said when Kimiko started to move.

“I’ve got class Dyris, better make it fast,” Kimiko said turning back.

“I just wanted to wish you luck with Raimundo,” she said dryly.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Keiko suddenly jumped in defensively. Kimiko grabbed her arm to still her.

“Come on, we’ve got class,” Kimiko told her giving her arm a little tug. Keiko shot Dyris a look that said everything Kimiko wanted to verbalize but would probably be suspended for, before turning away.

“See you in class Keiko,” Dyris called as they walked away and Kimiko felt her best friend stiffen.

“Come on,” Kimiko encouraged dragging the girl along faster.

“You should have let me knocked her out,” Keiko complained not seeming to care if they were out of earshot or not.

“She’s not worth it,” Kimiko said with a roll of her eyes.

“Don’t let her get to you,” Keiko cautioned.

“I don’t, she’s not even worth my time,” Kimiko said with a smile because it was completely true. She’d put up with Dyris when she and Raimundo had been dating but now the girl didn’t need to be in her life at all and it was very liberating thought.

“Good girl,” Keiko said mirroring Kimiko’s smile.

“Didn’t you have a headache coming on?” Kimiko asked as they prepared to part ways.

“You know, you’re right, I think I do feel a headache coming on,” Keiko said with a laugh, “see you later.” Kimiko laughed as well and then turned away thinking, foolishly, that life might be pretty damn close to perfect.

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“I HATE THAT GIRL!” a voice suddenly screamed sending Kimiko, Raimundo, and Clay scrambling for cover.

“Whole crap Keiko!” Clay swore out of character. “What wrong with you?”
“I hate that girl,” Keiko repeated in a very controlled voice though her whole body was shaking with pent up rage.

“We got that,” Raimundo said not moving from his hiding spot.

“Keiko? What happened?” Kimiko asked rushing from where she’d been sitting on Raimundo’s bed to where Keiko stood fuming in doorway.

“That, that, that girl, if you can even call her that,” Keiko fumed walking in the room, seemingly unaware of anyone or anything in her way, “went out of her way to tell my calc teacher and the principal about me faking headaches to get out of class.” She suddenly stopped speaking in English and switched to fast paced Japanese. Clay and Raimundo’s eyes widened at this and Kimiko’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“What did she say?” Clay asked Kimiko just shook her head, mouth still opened in shock.

“What is all the noise about?” a new voice asked and the others turned their attention to the newly arrived Omi. Kimiko suddenly gasped and rushed to clap her hands over the young boy’s ears.

“He doesn’t understand Japanese,” Rai observed but Kimiko didn’t seem to care.

“Just shut her up,” Kimiko said desperately. Keiko seemed to come back to herself at that moment and resumed speaking in English.

“And now I have detention for a week!” she cried as she fell onto Clay’s bed.

“Ahh what?” Clay asked.

“That thing, that Dyris, is such an evil monster,” Keiko lamented.

“Is that where you’ve been all afternoon?” Kimiko asked suddenly putting two and two together. “Dyris ratted you out about going to the nurse’s office and you got detention?”

“Yes! What the hell did you ever see in her?” Keiko asked suddenly turning on Raimundo who looked a little shell shocked over the question.

“I ah, you see, here, now,” Rai stuttered looking to Kimiko for help who only smirked and folded her arms.

“I’d like to hear this explanation as well,” Kimiko said.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Rai cried out.

“I can answer that question quite easily,” Omi suddenly said.

“This should be interesting,” Keiko muttered.

“You see, she is very, very pretty,” Omi said as if it were a very simple and obvious answer, which it was. No one responded, just blinked rapidly, staring at the boy. “What?”

“I suppose that’s a good enough answer,” Clay said slowly.

“You honestly think that is a good answer?” Keiko growled out and the three boys cowered.

“Is that not correct?” Omi asked looking over at Raimundo who looked like he was about to exploded.

“Why is this turning around on me? Keiko is the one with the problem here, not me.”

“True,” Keiko agreed and then soured again, “I’ve never had detention before! This is insanity.”

“Keiko,” Kimiko suddenly interjected, “how long is this sob fest going to go on for?”

Keiko glanced at the alarm clock on Clay’s nightstand and shrugged, “another hour here and then crying on the phone to Mom and Dad.”

“Mind if I bail? I have a test in French tomorrow,” Kimiko asked.

“Yeah, go, we’ll plot later,” Keiko said with a wave of her hand before turning her attention to Clay and Omi, “what about you two? Any detentions to your names?”

“Of course not,” Omi said proudly, “such a thing would surely shame me.” Keiko looked close to tears at his response and Clay worked to consol her. Meanwhile Raimundo turned to Kimiko.”

“I’ve said it before and probably will again, you and Keiko have a really odd relationship.”

“I think we work out well enough,” Kimiko said with a shrug. “I was serious about the French test though. If we can’t study here and Keiko’s going to move to our room in an hour then I’m heading to the library. Wanna come?”
“My, my, aren’t we a diligent student,” Rai teased.

“You make it hard to be so I’m doubling my efforts,” she said slipping her coat on and grabbing her book bag. “In or out?”
“In,” Rai said mimicking her actions, “I don’t feel like being around for a sob fest.”

“I don’t sob!” Keiko suddenly said tearfully after overhearing Raimundo’s words.

“My point exactly,” Rai said following his girlfriend out of the room.

“You don’t have to come to the library with me you know,” Kimiko said when they reached the street, fighting against the winter cold.

“I’m cool,” Rai said taking her hand, “anything to spend time with you.”

“Well aren’t you a romantic,” Kimiko laughed.

“Only with you,” he said seriously and when she laughed he frowned, “I’m serious.” His tone caught her off guard and caused her to look at him suddenly. “I’m serious Kimiko,” he repeated also stopping, “you’re the only one I’ve ever been like this with. The only person I’ve ever wanted to be like this with.” Kimiko felt her cheeks glow and struggled for an answer. Before she could muster one though they were interrupted.

“Raimundo! Kimiko!” someone called their name and they turned to find Jermaine jogging toward them.

“Hey Jermaine, what’s up?” Rai asked catching his hand in a shake when the boy caught up.

“Glad I ran in to you two. I was looking for Keiko. We were supposed to meet to work on that Chem lab but she didn’t show. I was kind of worried,” Jermaine explained straight faced, a little too straight faced for Kimiko to buy and she smiled knowingly.

“She’s up in my room with Clay and Omi,” Rai said, “she got a detention and was freaking out.”

“What did she get detention for?” Jermaine asked with a curious raise of his eyebrows.

“The headache excuse caught up with her,” Kimiko explained simply and again, wasn’t surprised when Jermaine gave a knowing nod.

“Knew that would get her in trouble one of these days,” Jermaine said shaking his head, “do you guys mind letting me in?” As a day student Jermaine didn’t have keys to get let into the dorms and had to hope someone would be around to let him in. Raimundo glanced down at Kimiko who gave a tiny shiver as the wind picked up again.

“I’ll let you in Jermaine, you go ahead to the library Kimiko.”
“You sure Rai?” Kimiko asked.

“No problem,” he said nonchalantly.

“See you there then, later Jermaine,” Kimiko said her goodbyes before scurrying off.

“Clay and Keiko are spending an awful lot of time together lately,” Jermaine observed as he Raimundo headed back toward the dorm.

“No more then usual,” Rai said with a shrug, missing the worried look on Jermaine’s face, “you just see it more cause they’re alone more often now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if I’m hanging out with Kimiko in her and Keiko’s room a lot of times she’ll just go to my room hang out instead and vice versa with Clay.”

“Oh,” Jermaine said not sure of what to make of that answer. Meanwhile Kimiko had made it to the library and was settling at her favorite cluster of desks in a secluded corner. She loved the spot because she could study without being distracted by the flow of traffic in the library but was still out in the public. She’d just cracked the spine of her French book when a shadow loomed over her. Not really focused, and thinking it was Raimundo, Kimiko snapped at the shadow’s owner to sit down and stop blocking her light.

“If you insist,” a voice that was very much not Raimundo’s said, pulling out a chair. Kimiko gasped in surprise when she realized who it was. Chase Young sat very still and straight across the table from her. Kimiko hadn’t seen much of Chase since she’d been back at school, after all she was busy with Raimundo and he was busy with senior activities that he had to be a part of as president of the class. She knew that he must know about her going out with Raimundo, hell most of the school did by the time they’d returned for classes, courtesy of Keiko and her gossiping skills, but had no idea what he actually thought of it. When she was single Chase’s subtle flirting was one thing but now that she was with Raimundo she wasn’t sure. She watched him, watching her, for a moment more, trying to figure out something to say. He smirked his usual smirk, noting her difficulties and started things off.

“Did you have a good break?” he asked lounging back slightly.

“Yes, I did. What about you?”

“Nothing much new,” he said with a shrug before looking toward her bag and noticed her economics book peeking out. He leaned forward and grabbed it, inspecting it. “Economics? With Hatler?”

“Yeah,” Kimiko said slightly nervous.

“I took that last year, it was hell.”

“Isn’t it?” Kimiko said suddenly excited to share. “I just don’t get any of it.”

“Yeah, I thought so too. And then I had some sort of economics epiphany and my grade went from a D to an A+.”

“The great Chase Young getting anything less then an A? I’m shocked,” Kimiko said with mock horror that caused Chase to smile.

“Shocking I know but I pulled it around,” Chase said.

“What clicked?” Kimiko wondered hoping to get some hint.

“I don’t know,” Chase admitted with a shrug, “just sorta did.”

“Oh,” Kimiko replied slightly disappointed.

“Maybe first half of term is just harder then first,” Chase suggested noticing her disappointment.

“Hopefully,” Kimiko answered with a sigh before looking up again and noticing Chase’s eyes boring hard into her. She wanted to turn away, break his gaze, do anything but couldn’t for a moment or two. When she finally did she cleared her throat with a blush, eyes going downward.

“If it doesn’t get better,” Chase continued apparently unaware of her discomfort, “I can always tutor you.” Kimiko brightened at this.

“Really?” she asked immediately perky again. “Cause that would be great.” Her suddenly change in demeanor caught Chase off guard for a second but when he recollected himself he laughed. It was Kimiko’s turn to be caught off guard when she suddenly realized she’d never heard Chase really laugh, at least not like this. A few mocking laughs that were actually closer to barks or sarcastic scoffs, but never a carefree laugh like this. For some reason it made Kimiko smile. Chase stopped when he realized that Kimiko was studying him.

“Yes?” he asked noticing her stare.

“You have a nice laugh,” was all she observed.

“Hmm,” Chase drawled out, “I don’t give it out often.” His smile and eyes were steamy and Kimiko frowned slightly.

“You can’t do that to me,” she scolded.

“Do what?” Chase inquired though his eyes were knowing.

“I have a boyfriend,” Kimiko said blushing and turning her eyes toward her book.

“I know,” he said simply.

“You don’t act it,” Kimiko snapped back.

“Don’t worry Kimiko,” Chase assured her, “it is all harmless.”

“I wanna be your friend,” Kimiko said softly looking back up at him.

“We can,” Chase said with a reassuring smile.

“Good,” Kimiko said returning the smile.

“Hey,” a new voice said interrupting the two. Kimiko turned to face the newly arrived, sour looking Raimundo.

“Hey Rai,” Kimiko greeted without batting an eyelash, seemingly unaware of Rai’s bad mood. Chase nodded a greeting that Rai barely returned as he sat in the chair next to Kimiko, his arm wrapped possessively around her shoulders. Kimiko noticed this and frowned slightly. She was about to shrug his arm off of her when Chase suddenly stood.

“I’ll leave you alone,” Chase said his eyes flashing to Kimiko before turning and hardening on Raimundo. The two held a short lived staring contest before Chase turned on his heel and left silently.

“I don’t like that guy,” Raimundo said as soon as he thought that Chase was out of hearing range.

“I don’t see why,” Kimiko said moodily glaring at him before looking down at her book, “he never did anything to you and don’t be so rude to him next time.”

“Next time?” Raimundo asked surprised. Kimiko looked up from her book to send him an annoyed and questioning look. “I just said I don’t like that guy Kimiko and if I can manage it I won’t have to see him again…ever.”

“And I repeat- what did he ever do to you?”

“That’s little obvious don’t you think?”

“Raimundo I don’t have time for this,” Kimiko said suddenly frustrated, her eyes going to her book again.

“He likes you,” Raimundo said slowly as his thumb began to rub on her collarbone and then added, “a lot.”

“I’ve heard that from Keiko before and I’ll tell you what I told her, I don’t like him,” Kimiko replied not looking up.

“That doesn’t the change the fact that likes you,” Raimundo leaned closer to her.

“Jealous?” Kimiko asked slyly not expecting him to answer or to be so close as to whisper in her ears when he did.

“If I am?” he whispered his arm tightening around her. As much as it sent a thrill through her it was also slightly annoying to have him leaning so possessively on her.

“It wouldn’t matter,” Kimiko said slightly bitter, “Chase is my friend and you are just going to have to deal with that.”

“I don’t like the way he looks at you,” Rai said leaning away from her slightly but still staying close. Kimiko sighed heavily.

“Jealously doesn’t suit you Raimundo,” she said looking at him. “And you don’t have to worry,” she said smiling slightly, “I waited a long time to be with you. I wouldn’t ruin this by being interested in someone like Chase Young.”

“I know that and I trust you,” he said as his frown turned into an all out pout, “it’s him I don’t trust.” Kimiko laughed and shook her head.

“I’m not going to stop being friends with him, the little bit of friends that we are,” Kimiko told him, “especially since he offered to tutor me in Economics if I needed it.”

“I could tutor you,” Raimundo offered sincerely making Kimiko laugh.

“Have you even taken the class?” she asked.

“Well no but I’m sure that there is a way around that.”

“No offense Rai,” Kimiko said trying to sound serious, “but you’re kind of annoying. I could use a break from you.” She gave a tiny yelp that she managed to stifle, not wanting to be thrown out of the library again, when Raimundo grabbed her in a hug.

“You love me,” he said trying to pull her into his lap, “admit it.”

“Rai,” Kimiko protested, “you’re going to get us in trouble again.”

“Just admit it,” Rai said still trying to get her off her chair.

“Mr. Pedrosa? Mr. Tohomiko?” the voice of the librarian asked chillingly making Kimiko groan.

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“You’re back early,” Keiko said looking up from her computer when Kimiko walked in grumbling. Raimundo, looking pleased with himself, followed a few steps behind.

“Banned for two weeks,” he said almost dreamily, “that must be some kind of record.”

“Banned from what?” Keiko asked curiously.

“Well,” Raimundo started sounded excited before a pillow to his face cut him off.

“You need to leave,” Kimiko said angry.

“Didn’t we go over this in the library, before we got thrown out, you love me no matter what?” Raimundo said with a grin.

“You guys got thrown out of the library?” Keiko laughed.

“Out!” Kimiko yelled at Rai again.

“I’ll be back,” he said with a wink before ducking another pillow and dashing out of the room.

“Alright what happened?” Keiko asked as soon as Raimundo was gone. Kimiko angrily blew hair out of her face as she sank to her bed.

“Rai was goofing off again and Ms. Wuya banned us for two weeks.”

“Bravo,” Keiko said grinning from ear to ear.

“You’re in a better mood,” Kimiko observed.

“Yeah, Mom and Dad weren’t that angry about the detention thing so I feel better now.”

“That’s good,” Kimiko said with nod and then remembered something, “did Jermaine ever find you?”

“Yeah,” Keiko said with a shrug trying to look like it didn’t matter at all, “I completely forgot about the chem lab after being imprisoned in detention.”

“Dramatic much?” Kimiko asked. “What did he want?”

“Just to set up a new time to meet.”

“Over dinner and a movie?” Kimiko teased.

“He doesn’t like me that way,” Keiko assured and Kimiko grinned.

“Look who’s in denial now,” Kimiko said knowing it would press her buttons.

“Don’t you have a French test to study for?”

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“You will never guess what!” Keiko exclaimed when she ran up to the group at lunch the next day. Nearly everyone in the cafeteria looked over at her exclamation but Keiko ignored them and focused on her friends.

“What Keiko?” Clay asked humoring the girl. Keiko immediately took the seat next to him that was also across from where Kimiko and Raimundo sat. Raimundo had successfully graveled enough to earn Kimiko’s forgiveness.

“It’s so awesome, you’ll never guess,” Keiko repeated.

“Then why don’t you save us the trouble and just tell us,” Raimundo practically grumbled earning a glare from both girls. “What?” he asked confused.

“Anyway,” Keiko went on, “the seniors just announced that they have enough extra funding that they are throwing a dance for all of the underclassmen! And it’s going to be a Red, white, and black ball on Valentines’ Day!” Keiko looked disappointed when silence was all that greeted her. “No one else is excited?” Keiko questioned.

“I’m just not a big fan of Valentines’ Day is all,” Clay said with a shrug.

“Agreed,” Raimundo said and Kimiko sent him a glance that he scrambled to answer, “except for this year when I can share it with you!”

“Nice cover,” Kimiko said rolling her eyes and going back to her salad.

“Well I know Jermaine and Omi will be excited!” Keiko assured the others.

“What am I excited about?” Jermaine asked as he and Omi joined them at the table.

“There is going to be a formal Valentines’ Day for the underclassman,” Keiko informed them.

“Very exciting,” Omi beamed, “maybe I will ask Ashley to accompany me.”

“Hmm,” both Kimiko and Keiko mused. Both girls had grown slightly fonder of the girl after she’d defended Kimiko to Dyris but old feelings still ran deep.

“That’s weird to me for a guy to be the one giving gifts and stuff on Valentines’ Day,” Keiko said thoughtfully. She’d had this same conversation around this time every year reminding her friends of how Valentines’ Day was celebrated differently in Japan, where only girls gave gifts to the men in their lives and those gifts were reciprocated on White Day the next month.

“So does that mean that a girl should ask a guy to a Valentines’ Day dance?” Jermaine asked nonchalantly after Keiko explained the cultural differences again. Keiko blushed lightly and didn’t answer.

“Theoretically I guess you’re right,” Clay said thoughtfully when Keiko didn’t answer.

“Does that mean I don’t have to get you a gift on Valentines’ Day?” Raimundo asked Kimiko playfully and Kimiko soured slightly.

“You know I don’t like Valentines’ Day,” she reminded.

“You just don’t want to give me a gift,” Rai said with a grin.

“You caught me,” Kimiko said sarcastically.

“Oi,” Jermaine complained, “would you two knock it off. We’re in a public place.”

“That didn’t stop them yesterday,” Keiko said mysteriously and immediately Kimiko looked ready to kill.

“Really?” Omi said naively. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Keiko started but Raimundo cut her off.

“That’s rated R, not suitable for minors,” he grinned and everyone including Kimiko stared at him in shock.

“I do not understand,” Omi said confused.

“Nothing to understand Omi,” Kimiko assured him, “Rai is just joking. Right Raimundo?”

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Rai said with a wink.

“Were you this bad with Dyris?” Kimiko asked half serious.

“Ooo, below the belt Kim,” Rai answered

“Didn’t need to be,” Clay answered for Raimundo. “Dyris didn’t hide a thing and told anyone who would listen.” Everyone looked surprised at the cowboy’s answer but he seemed to ignore them and turned to Raimundo. “Did I ever mention that I hated you dating her?”

“Well this is fun time lunch conversation,” Keiko said with a roll of her eyes.

“And speak of the devil,” Jermaine added and all at the table turned to see Dyris and her clones walking across the cafeteria. She glanced ever so subtly at the table and Rai’s hand went to cover Kimiko’s on the table.

“Don’t let that siren get to you,” Keiko said to no on in particular.

“I’ve got that down,” Rai assured them as the bell rang. Everyone stood and dumped their trash in cans and placed their trays in the right spot.

“I’m going to get a water,” Kimiko said as an after thought, “anyone want anything?” When everyone shook their heads no Kimiko waved them away and promised to see them later. With the food lines shut down Kimiko was forced to walk to the other end of the dining hall in search of the drink machines. She was just pulling out her wallet when a familiar voice fell on her ears. Kimiko wouldn’t have thought of anything of it but it was a second voice that joined the first in a low mummer that caught Kimiko’s attention. Cautiously Kimiko stuck her head around the corner where the drink machines sat and saw what she considered the oddest pair in the whole world. ‘What the heck,’ Kimiko wondered, ‘do Dyris and Chase Young have to talk about?’

“What are you looking at?” a voice whispered behind Kimiko causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.

“Keiko!” she hissed and motioned to the girl to be quiet and to look around the corner with her.

“What the heck?” Keiko whispered when she saw the two who were now going their separate ways.

“My thoughts exactly,” Kimiko said looking back at her best friend.

“What do they have to talk to about?” Keiko wondered. “I thought Chase pretty much hated Dyris and anyone like her.”

“Me too,” Kimiko agreed. “But at the same time who really cares? I mean it’s got nothing to do with us.”

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A week later Kimiko was grimacing at another bad Economics grade as she sat on her bed. The feeling in the room was sober at best. It was Keiko’s first day free of detention but the girl was in a bad mood and the two seemed to feed of one another. Kimiko had asked Keiko what was wrong when the girl sulked into the room but she’d mumbled ‘nothing’ and rolled over to take a nap. Kimiko was confident to that it had something to do with the fact that the Valentines’ Day dance Saturday night and Jermaine hadn’t asked her out yet but Kimiko didn’t feel the need to pry.

“I’m going out for a little while,” Kimiko told her roommate, assuming that she wasn’t actually asleep- just sulking. Keiko weakly waved a hand in response and Kimiko slipped out of the room. She wasn’t really sure where she was going, she was still banned from the library for another week or so and the common room wasn’t holding much appeal at the moment for some reason. Raimundo was at soccer practice so there was no fun to be had there. She could always just go visit Clay or maybe Jermaine was still on campus or even Omi.

“You look lost Tohomiko, and this is your dorm,” a voice broke into her thoughts. Whirling around was surprised to Chase standing smirking in the hallway behind her.

“What are you doing in the girls’ dorm?” was her first gut reaction but she felt bad as soon as she said it, wondering if it was too rude.

“The senior class vice president lives on your floor,” Chase explained simply.

“Oh,” Kimiko responded feeling foolish since it was such a reasonable explanation.

“What’s that in your hand?” it was Chase’s turn to be blunt. Kimiko glanced down at her hand realizing that she was still holding her quiz. Sheepishly she held it up for him to see.

“B-, not terrible,” he observed but noted her face, “why so down then?”

“A’s would be better,” she shrugged. “That’s the highest grade that I’ve gotten in the class and to pull up my grade from all those C’s I need some A’s.”
“How about a tutor?” he offered and Kimiko smiled.

“I feel like I’m taking advantage of you,” Kimiko grimaced not wanting to take advantage of his generosity.

“You aren’t taking advantage of me,” Chase corrected her. “If anything it is the other way around.” Kimiko’s eyes narrowed at his comment.

“Ok, then no, I don’t need a tutor,” Kimiko had already told him that he couldn’t be like that around her.

“Sorry,” he grinned his usually cool grin that always had Kimiko thinking he was hiding something sinister, “old habits die hard.” (AN: Is Chase just way too OOC in this story? I think he might be but at the same time all of the characters are a little OOC but for some reason I’ve got a feeling that Chase would be cocky like this in high school)

“Well thanks but no thanks,” Kimiko snapped rolling her eyes.

“Don’t be stupid Tohomiko,” Chase said, “let me tutor you. I’ll behave.” Kimiko sighed feeling defeated.

“Do I have a choice?”
“Do you want an A in the class?”

“I’ll get my coat.”

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“Why are we meeting a coffee shop?” Chase asked a half an hour later. Kimiko looked sheepish as she placed her notebook on the table.

“I got banned from the library,” Kimiko explained.

“Or do you just not want your boyfriend to see us?” Chase inquired.

“That would be ironic since he’s the one that got me banned from the library,” Kimiko grumbled.

“That sounds like a story,” Chase said taking a sip of his drink.

“That I don’t’ really feel like sharing,” Kimiko answered. “Now, economics, please?”

“Sure,” Chase complied. “What areas are you having trouble in?”

“What don’t’ I get?” Kimiko answered with a sigh. “It’s like I read the words and grasp what they are saying but can’t process it.”

“Ok then,” Chase said sympathetically, “let’s start at the beginning.”

The two remained bent over Kimiko’s books along with her notes and Chase’s old notebook for nearly an hour, processing terms and economic theory.

“I think the problem is that I just really don’t care,” Kimiko said stretching her arms over her head.

“That could be a problem,” Chase agreed. “Do you want something else to drink?” he asked noticing how they were both out of their choice of beverages.

“Sure,” she said with a smile reminding him of what she was drinking and then handing over some money, insisting on paying for both of their drinks. Chase hadn’t been away more then a minute when her phone vibrating in her pocket caught her attention. Flipping it open she saw the screen glowing with Rai’s name and answered cheerfully.

“I can barely hear you,” came his reply, “where are you?” Kimiko looked overhead at the speaking beating steadily above her.

“Hang on,” she told him getting up and stepping away from her table figuring that with Chase in the line she wouldn’t need to worry about their things.
“Is that better?” Kimiko asked glancing at the table just to be safe.

“Yeah,” Rai agreed and then asked again. “Where are you?”

“In a coffee shop,” she said purposely being vague.

“With Keiko?” he questioned.

“Honestly?” Kimiko answered back.

“Well you what they say about the honesty policy,” Rai answered and Kimiko smiled.

“With Chase Young,” she answered waiting for an explosion.

“Pardon?” came Rai quiet response after a moment’s pause.

“Chase Young,” Kimiko repeated, “he’s tutoring me in Economics and since I’m banned from the library and the common room was too crowded we came to a coffee shop.” Kimiko could see Raimundo in her mind’s eyes mulling this all over in his head.

“You almost done?” he practically chocked out. Kimiko glanced at the watch on her wrist.

“Yeah, after we finish our drinks we’ll head out,” Kimiko promised. “Half an hour, forty five minutes tops.”

“Ok, I’ll see you then,” Rai said sounding a little sad.

“Hey? You ok?” Kimiko inquired.

“Yeah,” Rai anwered, “just kinda tired I guess and everyone seems a little, I don’t know, melancholy around here.”

“I’ll be back soon,” Kimiko promised, “and don’t forget I love you,” she reminded him.

“Love you too,” he answered and the two hung up.

“Raimundo waiting for you?” Chase questioned from behind her. Kimiko spun around in surprise not liking the way he always seemed to catch her off guard.

“Yeah, he was just wondering where I was,” Kimiko explained.

“And what did you tell him?” Chase asked with a raised eyebrow as the two sat back down.

“That you were tutoring me in a coffee shop and that I’d be back soon,” Kimiko’s voice trailed off when she notice the two heart shaped cookies waiting on the table with there drinks. It was Kimiko’s turn to raise her eyebrows.

“I promise you,” Chase said defensively, “girl at the counter gave me them for free cause of the holiday.”

“Oh,” Kimiko said simply thinking it sounded believable enough.

“And Raimundo was ok with you being alone at a coffee shop with me?” Chase questioned.

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Kimiko wondered aloud.

“I over heard him the other day in the library,” Chase said and Kimiko’s face darkened slightly.

“It’s not polite to eavesdrop,” she scolded trying to forget that the fact that she’d been spying on him and Dyris. Chase didn’t have an answer for that but just took a sip of his drink, amber eyes locked on her.

“Shall we get back to work?” he asked a second later. Kimiko sighed and turned back to her books.

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Description
Second story in the "Mercer Universe". This was originally supposed to a Valentines' Day fic but due to circumstances outside of my control (being stranded by Jetblue in NYC during the middle of the Valentines' Day storm) it never got loaded on fanfiction.net and never would have been but I wrote a third story related to this series and had to upload it so the new story would make sense. So here it is, part one (because this site makes me split it up to load)

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Tug

She tried to ignore the annoyance to her right and concentrate on the question in front of her.

Tug

But that was becoming increasingly hard.

Tug

“You know it’s really hard to concentrate when you are doing that,” Kimiko snapped narrowing her eyes but refusing to look in her annoyance’s direction.

“Your hair is pretty. Did you know that? Has it always been this shiny? And how do you get it to do this little curl thing on the bottom?”

“I’m so glad you finally noticed!” Kimiko said with fake enthusiasm. “I started using pretty potion the other day!”

“Really? Is that a kind of shampoo?” Rai asked as he curled the end of her pigtail around his finger. He was interrupted in his admirations by a sudden smack upside the head. “What was that for?” he asked rubbing the now sore spot.

“I’m trying to concentrate and you are making it very hard to do,” Kimiko said in a low voice noticing the eyes around the library that were now looking in their direction.

“Sorry,” Rai said in a sad sounding voice suddenly looking crestfallen. Kimiko felt herself soften and was about to consol Raimundo when a balled up piece of paper bounced off her forehead.

“You’re back in the dog house,” Kimiko said turning back to her economics’ book.

“Don’t be mad Kim,” Rai said leaning closer.

“Oh man, I can’t take this anymore,” a new voice said surprising both Rai and Kimiko. They looked across the table to where Clay and Keiko sat forgotten by the two in love teens.

“Don’t be hatin Keiko,” Rai said dramatically wrapping his arm around Kimiko who rolled her eyes.

“Don’t be talkin like you’re from da hood Rai,” Keiko said in a horrible accent as she packed up her books, “I’m out of here.”

“I’m with Keiko on this one,” Clay said with a smile and started shoving things into his bag.

“Guys you don’t have to leave,” Kimiko argued shoving Rai’s arm from off her shoulders.

“It’s cool,” Keiko said with a smile and a wave as she and Clay disappeared from sight. Kimiko frowned as she watched the two go and then turned to glare at Raimundo who was leaning back on his chair and trying to balance a pencil on his fingertip.

“Way to be Rai,” Kimiko said unhappily.

“Yeah, me likes, now we’re alone,” Rai said sidling closer. Kimiko groaned and shoved him away. Unfortunately she forgot that Rai was unbalanced on his chair and the teen boy tumbled over with a loud bang that gained the attention of anyone not already watching the two. Kimiko flinched and froze at the noise, glancing down at her boyfriend who was currently tangled in the legs of the chair.

“Is there a problem Ms. Tohomiko? Mr. Pedrosa?” the chilling voice of the librarian asked. Kimiko immediately sat up straighter and Raimundo somehow managed to make it back into his chair in record time.

“No problem Ms. Wuya,” Rai said picking is book up and pretending to read, not noticing it was upside down. Kimiko groaned and buried her face in her text book.

“Be that as it may,” Wuya said, “I think you two had better leave.” Kimiko bit her tongue and quickly collected her things before she and Rai left silently. Once in the hallway Raimundo began to laugh and Kimiko’s eyes narrowed.

“What is so funny?” Kimiko asked angrily.

“Ah lighten up Kim,” Rai said stepping closer to her. Kimiko just turned up her nose and began to walk away.

“You aren’t seriously mad are you?” Rai asked surprised.

“No,” Kimiko admitted stopping to look back as he caught up. “Just annoyed I guess.”

“Why?”

Kimiko gave him a look that clearly asked ‘are you that stupid?’

“I’m having enough trouble with Economics and it’s only like the fourth week of classes,” Kimiko said, “I need to concentrate on that. And you, unfortunately, are very distracting.”

“I take that as a complement,” Rai said grabbing her hand in his and giving it a squeeze. As she had since they’d started going out shortly before Christmas Kimiko melted at Raimundo’s every touch and glance. Not that she hadn’t before they’d been going out but now he did it often and on purpose, not seeming to be able to get enough of her. After he’d found her in Central Park the day that Winter Break began it seemed that Raimundo couldn’t stop himself from kissing her, holding her hand, or touching her in someway. They’d spent three blissful days together at the school before spending Christmas with Jermaine’s family and then finally flying to Tokyo to spend New Year’s and the rest of the holiday with Kimiko’s father. Both Kimiko’s father and the Pedrosas seemed more then ecstatic over Raimundo and Kimiko finally getting together. And they had used that term a lot, so had their friends when they told them. It seemed all they ever heard when someone found out was ‘it’s about time’.

When they’d arrived back at school their friends had of course known and most of the school seemed unsurprised as well. Kimiko would never forget the look on Dyris’s face when she’d first seen the two walking hand and hand down the hallway together. It had been strangely satisfying and so far, besides some mean whispers from Dyris and the members of Raimundo’s fan club, their time at school had just been continued bliss. So lost in thoughts of the past few weeks Kimiko almost missed what Raimundo asked at they walked through the empty halls of the school, heading for the dorms.

“Sorry Rai, what did you say?” Kimiko asked.

“Lost in lala land?” Rai joked.

“Just thinking about the last few weeks,” Kimiko told him with a tiny smile.

“One of my favorite subjects,” Rai said with a smirk.

“Oh? And what’s your favorite?” Kimiko asked coyly. Rai just smirked again before pulling them to a stop and tugging her hand so she turned to face him. The pull almost threw her off her feet but Rai was ready, his hands on her shoulders to hold her still as his mouth moved onto her for a long, sweet kiss.

“That,” he told her pulling away and taking her hand again.

“You could have just said,” Kimiko said in a mock grumpy voice, debating whether or not she liked the fact that he could do that to her so easily.

“Yeah but showing is more fun,” Rai said with a laugh and then continued, “and I asked why you were even taking economics in the first place.”

“I need to be ready to help my day with the company some day and economics seems like a good place to start,” Kimiko said with a shrug.

“But if it’s boring then why do you do it?” Rai asked.

“Not all of us can be so gifted and lucky that we can do what we want, like you and you’re writing,” Kimiko said with a laugh.

“I have good inspiration,” Raimundo said winking in her direction. He’d been writing like a mad man the past few weeks and he knew that his relationship with Kimiko was to thank for that.

“Stop, you’re making me blush,” Kimiko said with mock embarrassment.

“You’re cute when you’re blushing,” Raimundo said wagging a finger in her direction.

“You’re cute in general,” Kimiko said as the entered the lounge area that connected the two dorms.

“We can’t escape them anywhere!” a yell snapped Raimundo and Kimiko back to attention. Keiko and Clay were sitting at a couch bent over their work but were now joined by Omi and Jack Spicer. Raimundo and Kimiko blushed in embarrassment but Raimundo recovered first.

“Ahh are you jealous Keiko,” Rai said walking over to Keiko and leaning over the back of the couch, “cause there’s plenty of love to go around.” He started making kissing noises and nearly bit his tongue in two when Kimiko smacked him upside the head for the second time that day. “Girl you’re lucky I like you!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Kimiko said unloading her own books and joining the others. “Now Spicer, you’re in my economics class. Does any of this make sense to you?”

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Kimiko groaned the next morning as she exited that class room.

“That good?” Keiko asked joining her. Kimiko only lifted her quiz paper for Keiko to inspect who looked at Kimiko oddly. “It’s a C+, what’s wrong with that?”

“That’s not good for me,” Kimiko snapped, “especially not in this class.” Keiko held her hands up defensively.

“Don’t take this out on me,” Keiko said as they walked on and Kimiko let her head hang down.

“I’m sorry Keiko but I’m trying to prove something here,” Kimiko apologized as they reached their lockers. Keiko spun the dial on hers idly.

“Which I don’t get. If you hate Economics so much why are you taking it? And I know, know,” Keiko cut Kimiko off, “you want to help your Dad at his company someday. But you know you don’t have to.”

“But I want to,” Kimiko said pulling her locker open and began exchanging books, “and world economics will help with that.” Kimiko paused and checked to make sure the coast was clear before continuing. “Plus, I didn’t tell Rai this but my dad said that if my grades suffer while I’m going out with Rai that he might have to say something about it.”

“That’s no fair,” Keiko said with a frown.

“I know but if I prove that I can do well in a class that I don’t like and apparently don’t understand then my dad might lay off,” Kimiko suddenly looked at Keiko and realize something, “aren’t you going to get your books?”

“Nah,” the other girl said with a shrug, “I’ve got calculus next but feel a headache coming on.”

“Funny thing those headaches of yours,” Kimiko said with a smile, “they always seem to show up right around classes you don’t like.” Keiko grinned sheepishly before shrugging again.

“You deal with classes you don’t like by going to class and diligently taking notes. I deal with them by napping in the nurse’s office.” Keiko’s expression suddenly soured. “Harpy alert.” Kimiko turned to where Keiko was looking and saw Dyris and her cronies rounding the corner. Her encounters with Dyris had been limited but they were in the same year together so they were bound to run across each others’ paths at some point in time. Dyris glared as she approached the two, flanked on either side by two girls that had been her best friends, and near perfect copies, before she’d stopped having time for them when going out with Rai. Now that Dyris was single again it seemed she’d taken them back on. Kimiko just shut her locker and waited for the girl to pass but was unpleasantly surprised when she stopped behind her. Beside her Kimiko felt Keiko bristle and take a defense step forward as Kimiko turned to face the auburn haired girl. She knew that a meeting like this was inevitable, she’d just hoped it would happen more toward graduation.

Kimiko folded her arms and slightly pursed her lips as she waited for Dyris to speak. As she waited those passing in the hall paused to watch and a few stopped all together. Before Rai was dating Dyris the unspoken animosity that Dyris had for Kimiko was well known throughout the school. Kimiko, for her part, didn’t know what she’d done to make Dyris hate her at first but didn’t go out of her way to remedy it. When Dyris and Raimundo had started going out Kimiko had sucked it up and Dyris seemed to put up with her. Now that Kimiko was going out with Raimundo and after the “chain incident”, Kimiko wasn’t sure what to expect. When nothing progressed past their staring match Kimiko just rolled her eyes and turned to walk away.

“Kimiko,” Dyris said when Kimiko started to move.

“I’ve got class Dyris, better make it fast,” Kimiko said turning back.

“I just wanted to wish you luck with Raimundo,” she said dryly.

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Keiko suddenly jumped in defensively. Kimiko grabbed her arm to still her.

“Come on, we’ve got class,” Kimiko told her giving her arm a little tug. Keiko shot Dyris a look that said everything Kimiko wanted to verbalize but would probably be suspended for, before turning away.

“See you in class Keiko,” Dyris called as they walked away and Kimiko felt her best friend stiffen.

“Come on,” Kimiko encouraged dragging the girl along faster.

“You should have let me knocked her out,” Keiko complained not seeming to care if they were out of earshot or not.

“She’s not worth it,” Kimiko said with a roll of her eyes.

“Don’t let her get to you,” Keiko cautioned.

“I don’t, she’s not even worth my time,” Kimiko said with a smile because it was completely true. She’d put up with Dyris when she and Raimundo had been dating but now the girl didn’t need to be in her life at all and it was very liberating thought.

“Good girl,” Keiko said mirroring Kimiko’s smile.

“Didn’t you have a headache coming on?” Kimiko asked as they prepared to part ways.

“You know, you’re right, I think I do feel a headache coming on,” Keiko said with a laugh, “see you later.” Kimiko laughed as well and then turned away thinking, foolishly, that life might be pretty damn close to perfect.

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“I HATE THAT GIRL!” a voice suddenly screamed sending Kimiko, Raimundo, and Clay scrambling for cover.

“Whole crap Keiko!” Clay swore out of character. “What wrong with you?”
“I hate that girl,” Keiko repeated in a very controlled voice though her whole body was shaking with pent up rage.

“We got that,” Raimundo said not moving from his hiding spot.

“Keiko? What happened?” Kimiko asked rushing from where she’d been sitting on Raimundo’s bed to where Keiko stood fuming in doorway.

“That, that, that girl, if you can even call her that,” Keiko fumed walking in the room, seemingly unaware of anyone or anything in her way, “went out of her way to tell my calc teacher and the principal about me faking headaches to get out of class.” She suddenly stopped speaking in English and switched to fast paced Japanese. Clay and Raimundo’s eyes widened at this and Kimiko’s mouth dropped open in shock.

“What did she say?” Clay asked Kimiko just shook her head, mouth still opened in shock.

“What is all the noise about?” a new voice asked and the others turned their attention to the newly arrived Omi. Kimiko suddenly gasped and rushed to clap her hands over the young boy’s ears.

“He doesn’t understand Japanese,” Rai observed but Kimiko didn’t seem to care.

“Just shut her up,” Kimiko said desperately. Keiko seemed to come back to herself at that moment and resumed speaking in English.

“And now I have detention for a week!” she cried as she fell onto Clay’s bed.

“Ahh what?” Clay asked.

“That thing, that Dyris, is such an evil monster,” Keiko lamented.

“Is that where you’ve been all afternoon?” Kimiko asked suddenly putting two and two together. “Dyris ratted you out about going to the nurse’s office and you got detention?”

“Yes! What the hell did you ever see in her?” Keiko asked suddenly turning on Raimundo who looked a little shell shocked over the question.

“I ah, you see, here, now,” Rai stuttered looking to Kimiko for help who only smirked and folded her arms.

“I’d like to hear this explanation as well,” Kimiko said.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Rai cried out.

“I can answer that question quite easily,” Omi suddenly said.

“This should be interesting,” Keiko muttered.

“You see, she is very, very pretty,” Omi said as if it were a very simple and obvious answer, which it was. No one responded, just blinked rapidly, staring at the boy. “What?”

“I suppose that’s a good enough answer,” Clay said slowly.

“You honestly think that is a good answer?” Keiko growled out and the three boys cowered.

“Is that not correct?” Omi asked looking over at Raimundo who looked like he was about to exploded.

“Why is this turning around on me? Keiko is the one with the problem here, not me.”

“True,” Keiko agreed and then soured again, “I’ve never had detention before! This is insanity.”

“Keiko,” Kimiko suddenly interjected, “how long is this sob fest going to go on for?”

Keiko glanced at the alarm clock on Clay’s nightstand and shrugged, “another hour here and then crying on the phone to Mom and Dad.”

“Mind if I bail? I have a test in French tomorrow,” Kimiko asked.

“Yeah, go, we’ll plot later,” Keiko said with a wave of her hand before turning her attention to Clay and Omi, “what about you two? Any detentions to your names?”

“Of course not,” Omi said proudly, “such a thing would surely shame me.” Keiko looked close to tears at his response and Clay worked to consol her. Meanwhile Raimundo turned to Kimiko.”

“I’ve said it before and probably will again, you and Keiko have a really odd relationship.”

“I think we work out well enough,” Kimiko said with a shrug. “I was serious about the French test though. If we can’t study here and Keiko’s going to move to our room in an hour then I’m heading to the library. Wanna come?”
“My, my, aren’t we a diligent student,” Rai teased.

“You make it hard to be so I’m doubling my efforts,” she said slipping her coat on and grabbing her book bag. “In or out?”
“In,” Rai said mimicking her actions, “I don’t feel like being around for a sob fest.”

“I don’t sob!” Keiko suddenly said tearfully after overhearing Raimundo’s words.

“My point exactly,” Rai said following his girlfriend out of the room.

“You don’t have to come to the library with me you know,” Kimiko said when they reached the street, fighting against the winter cold.

“I’m cool,” Rai said taking her hand, “anything to spend time with you.”

“Well aren’t you a romantic,” Kimiko laughed.

“Only with you,” he said seriously and when she laughed he frowned, “I’m serious.” His tone caught her off guard and caused her to look at him suddenly. “I’m serious Kimiko,” he repeated also stopping, “you’re the only one I’ve ever been like this with. The only person I’ve ever wanted to be like this with.” Kimiko felt her cheeks glow and struggled for an answer. Before she could muster one though they were interrupted.

“Raimundo! Kimiko!” someone called their name and they turned to find Jermaine jogging toward them.

“Hey Jermaine, what’s up?” Rai asked catching his hand in a shake when the boy caught up.

“Glad I ran in to you two. I was looking for Keiko. We were supposed to meet to work on that Chem lab but she didn’t show. I was kind of worried,” Jermaine explained straight faced, a little too straight faced for Kimiko to buy and she smiled knowingly.

“She’s up in my room with Clay and Omi,” Rai said, “she got a detention and was freaking out.”

“What did she get detention for?” Jermaine asked with a curious raise of his eyebrows.

“The headache excuse caught up with her,” Kimiko explained simply and again, wasn’t surprised when Jermaine gave a knowing nod.

“Knew that would get her in trouble one of these days,” Jermaine said shaking his head, “do you guys mind letting me in?” As a day student Jermaine didn’t have keys to get let into the dorms and had to hope someone would be around to let him in. Raimundo glanced down at Kimiko who gave a tiny shiver as the wind picked up again.

“I’ll let you in Jermaine, you go ahead to the library Kimiko.”
“You sure Rai?” Kimiko asked.

“No problem,” he said nonchalantly.

“See you there then, later Jermaine,” Kimiko said her goodbyes before scurrying off.

“Clay and Keiko are spending an awful lot of time together lately,” Jermaine observed as he Raimundo headed back toward the dorm.

“No more then usual,” Rai said with a shrug, missing the worried look on Jermaine’s face, “you just see it more cause they’re alone more often now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if I’m hanging out with Kimiko in her and Keiko’s room a lot of times she’ll just go to my room hang out instead and vice versa with Clay.”

“Oh,” Jermaine said not sure of what to make of that answer. Meanwhile Kimiko had made it to the library and was settling at her favorite cluster of desks in a secluded corner. She loved the spot because she could study without being distracted by the flow of traffic in the library but was still out in the public. She’d just cracked the spine of her French book when a shadow loomed over her. Not really focused, and thinking it was Raimundo, Kimiko snapped at the shadow’s owner to sit down and stop blocking her light.

“If you insist,” a voice that was very much not Raimundo’s said, pulling out a chair. Kimiko gasped in surprise when she realized who it was. Chase Young sat very still and straight across the table from her. Kimiko hadn’t seen much of Chase since she’d been back at school, after all she was busy with Raimundo and he was busy with senior activities that he had to be a part of as president of the class. She knew that he must know about her going out with Raimundo, hell most of the school did by the time they’d returned for classes, courtesy of Keiko and her gossiping skills, but had no idea what he actually thought of it. When she was single Chase’s subtle flirting was one thing but now that she was with Raimundo she wasn’t sure. She watched him, watching her, for a moment more, trying to figure out something to say. He smirked his usual smirk, noting her difficulties and started things off.

“Did you have a good break?” he asked lounging back slightly.

“Yes, I did. What about you?”

“Nothing much new,” he said with a shrug before looking toward her bag and noticed her economics book peeking out. He leaned forward and grabbed it, inspecting it. “Economics? With Hatler?”

“Yeah,” Kimiko said slightly nervous.

“I took that last year, it was hell.”

“Isn’t it?” Kimiko said suddenly excited to share. “I just don’t get any of it.”

“Yeah, I thought so too. And then I had some sort of economics epiphany and my grade went from a D to an A+.”

“The great Chase Young getting anything less then an A? I’m shocked,” Kimiko said with mock horror that caused Chase to smile.

“Shocking I know but I pulled it around,” Chase said.

“What clicked?” Kimiko wondered hoping to get some hint.

“I don’t know,” Chase admitted with a shrug, “just sorta did.”

“Oh,” Kimiko replied slightly disappointed.

“Maybe first half of term is just harder then first,” Chase suggested noticing her disappointment.

“Hopefully,” Kimiko answered with a sigh before looking up again and noticing Chase’s eyes boring hard into her. She wanted to turn away, break his gaze, do anything but couldn’t for a moment or two. When she finally did she cleared her throat with a blush, eyes going downward.

“If it doesn’t get better,” Chase continued apparently unaware of her discomfort, “I can always tutor you.” Kimiko brightened at this.

“Really?” she asked immediately perky again. “Cause that would be great.” Her suddenly change in demeanor caught Chase off guard for a second but when he recollected himself he laughed. It was Kimiko’s turn to be caught off guard when she suddenly realized she’d never heard Chase really laugh, at least not like this. A few mocking laughs that were actually closer to barks or sarcastic scoffs, but never a carefree laugh like this. For some reason it made Kimiko smile. Chase stopped when he realized that Kimiko was studying him.

“Yes?” he asked noticing her stare.

“You have a nice laugh,” was all she observed.

“Hmm,” Chase drawled out, “I don’t give it out often.” His smile and eyes were steamy and Kimiko frowned slightly.

“You can’t do that to me,” she scolded.

“Do what?” Chase inquired though his eyes were knowing.

“I have a boyfriend,” Kimiko said blushing and turning her eyes toward her book.

“I know,” he said simply.

“You don’t act it,” Kimiko snapped back.

“Don’t worry Kimiko,” Chase assured her, “it is all harmless.”

“I wanna be your friend,” Kimiko said softly looking back up at him.

“We can,” Chase said with a reassuring smile.

“Good,” Kimiko said returning the smile.

“Hey,” a new voice said interrupting the two. Kimiko turned to face the newly arrived, sour looking Raimundo.

“Hey Rai,” Kimiko greeted without batting an eyelash, seemingly unaware of Rai’s bad mood. Chase nodded a greeting that Rai barely returned as he sat in the chair next to Kimiko, his arm wrapped possessively around her shoulders. Kimiko noticed this and frowned slightly. She was about to shrug his arm off of her when Chase suddenly stood.

“I’ll leave you alone,” Chase said his eyes flashing to Kimiko before turning and hardening on Raimundo. The two held a short lived staring contest before Chase turned on his heel and left silently.

“I don’t like that guy,” Raimundo said as soon as he thought that Chase was out of hearing range.

“I don’t see why,” Kimiko said moodily glaring at him before looking down at her book, “he never did anything to you and don’t be so rude to him next time.”

“Next time?” Raimundo asked surprised. Kimiko looked up from her book to send him an annoyed and questioning look. “I just said I don’t like that guy Kimiko and if I can manage it I won’t have to see him again…ever.”

“And I repeat- what did he ever do to you?”

“That’s little obvious don’t you think?”

“Raimundo I don’t have time for this,” Kimiko said suddenly frustrated, her eyes going to her book again.

“He likes you,” Raimundo said slowly as his thumb began to rub on her collarbone and then added, “a lot.”

“I’ve heard that from Keiko before and I’ll tell you what I told her, I don’t like him,” Kimiko replied not looking up.

“That doesn’t the change the fact that likes you,” Raimundo leaned closer to her.

“Jealous?” Kimiko asked slyly not expecting him to answer or to be so close as to whisper in her ears when he did.

“If I am?” he whispered his arm tightening around her. As much as it sent a thrill through her it was also slightly annoying to have him leaning so possessively on her.

“It wouldn’t matter,” Kimiko said slightly bitter, “Chase is my friend and you are just going to have to deal with that.”

“I don’t like the way he looks at you,” Rai said leaning away from her slightly but still staying close. Kimiko sighed heavily.

“Jealously doesn’t suit you Raimundo,” she said looking at him. “And you don’t have to worry,” she said smiling slightly, “I waited a long time to be with you. I wouldn’t ruin this by being interested in someone like Chase Young.”

“I know that and I trust you,” he said as his frown turned into an all out pout, “it’s him I don’t trust.” Kimiko laughed and shook her head.

“I’m not going to stop being friends with him, the little bit of friends that we are,” Kimiko told him, “especially since he offered to tutor me in Economics if I needed it.”

“I could tutor you,” Raimundo offered sincerely making Kimiko laugh.

“Have you even taken the class?” she asked.

“Well no but I’m sure that there is a way around that.”

“No offense Rai,” Kimiko said trying to sound serious, “but you’re kind of annoying. I could use a break from you.” She gave a tiny yelp that she managed to stifle, not wanting to be thrown out of the library again, when Raimundo grabbed her in a hug.

“You love me,” he said trying to pull her into his lap, “admit it.”

“Rai,” Kimiko protested, “you’re going to get us in trouble again.”

“Just admit it,” Rai said still trying to get her off her chair.

“Mr. Pedrosa? Mr. Tohomiko?” the voice of the librarian asked chillingly making Kimiko groan.

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“You’re back early,” Keiko said looking up from her computer when Kimiko walked in grumbling. Raimundo, looking pleased with himself, followed a few steps behind.

“Banned for two weeks,” he said almost dreamily, “that must be some kind of record.”

“Banned from what?” Keiko asked curiously.

“Well,” Raimundo started sounded excited before a pillow to his face cut him off.

“You need to leave,” Kimiko said angry.

“Didn’t we go over this in the library, before we got thrown out, you love me no matter what?” Raimundo said with a grin.

“You guys got thrown out of the library?” Keiko laughed.

“Out!” Kimiko yelled at Rai again.

“I’ll be back,” he said with a wink before ducking another pillow and dashing out of the room.

“Alright what happened?” Keiko asked as soon as Raimundo was gone. Kimiko angrily blew hair out of her face as she sank to her bed.

“Rai was goofing off again and Ms. Wuya banned us for two weeks.”

“Bravo,” Keiko said grinning from ear to ear.

“You’re in a better mood,” Kimiko observed.

“Yeah, Mom and Dad weren’t that angry about the detention thing so I feel better now.”

“That’s good,” Kimiko said with nod and then remembered something, “did Jermaine ever find you?”

“Yeah,” Keiko said with a shrug trying to look like it didn’t matter at all, “I completely forgot about the chem lab after being imprisoned in detention.”

“Dramatic much?” Kimiko asked. “What did he want?”

“Just to set up a new time to meet.”

“Over dinner and a movie?” Kimiko teased.

“He doesn’t like me that way,” Keiko assured and Kimiko grinned.

“Look who’s in denial now,” Kimiko said knowing it would press her buttons.

“Don’t you have a French test to study for?”

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“You will never guess what!” Keiko exclaimed when she ran up to the group at lunch the next day. Nearly everyone in the cafeteria looked over at her exclamation but Keiko ignored them and focused on her friends.

“What Keiko?” Clay asked humoring the girl. Keiko immediately took the seat next to him that was also across from where Kimiko and Raimundo sat. Raimundo had successfully graveled enough to earn Kimiko’s forgiveness.

“It’s so awesome, you’ll never guess,” Keiko repeated.

“Then why don’t you save us the trouble and just tell us,” Raimundo practically grumbled earning a glare from both girls. “What?” he asked confused.

“Anyway,” Keiko went on, “the seniors just announced that they have enough extra funding that they are throwing a dance for all of the underclassmen! And it’s going to be a Red, white, and black ball on Valentines’ Day!” Keiko looked disappointed when silence was all that greeted her. “No one else is excited?” Keiko questioned.

“I’m just not a big fan of Valentines’ Day is all,” Clay said with a shrug.

“Agreed,” Raimundo said and Kimiko sent him a glance that he scrambled to answer, “except for this year when I can share it with you!”

“Nice cover,” Kimiko said rolling her eyes and going back to her salad.

“Well I know Jermaine and Omi will be excited!” Keiko assured the others.

“What am I excited about?” Jermaine asked as he and Omi joined them at the table.

“There is going to be a formal Valentines’ Day for the underclassman,” Keiko informed them.

“Very exciting,” Omi beamed, “maybe I will ask Ashley to accompany me.”

“Hmm,” both Kimiko and Keiko mused. Both girls had grown slightly fonder of the girl after she’d defended Kimiko to Dyris but old feelings still ran deep.

“That’s weird to me for a guy to be the one giving gifts and stuff on Valentines’ Day,” Keiko said thoughtfully. She’d had this same conversation around this time every year reminding her friends of how Valentines’ Day was celebrated differently in Japan, where only girls gave gifts to the men in their lives and those gifts were reciprocated on White Day the next month.

“So does that mean that a girl should ask a guy to a Valentines’ Day dance?” Jermaine asked nonchalantly after Keiko explained the cultural differences again. Keiko blushed lightly and didn’t answer.

“Theoretically I guess you’re right,” Clay said thoughtfully when Keiko didn’t answer.

“Does that mean I don’t have to get you a gift on Valentines’ Day?” Raimundo asked Kimiko playfully and Kimiko soured slightly.

“You know I don’t like Valentines’ Day,” she reminded.

“You just don’t want to give me a gift,” Rai said with a grin.

“You caught me,” Kimiko said sarcastically.

“Oi,” Jermaine complained, “would you two knock it off. We’re in a public place.”

“That didn’t stop them yesterday,” Keiko said mysteriously and immediately Kimiko looked ready to kill.

“Really?” Omi said naively. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” Keiko started but Raimundo cut her off.

“That’s rated R, not suitable for minors,” he grinned and everyone including Kimiko stared at him in shock.

“I do not understand,” Omi said confused.

“Nothing to understand Omi,” Kimiko assured him, “Rai is just joking. Right Raimundo?”

“I don’t kiss and tell,” Rai said with a wink.

“Were you this bad with Dyris?” Kimiko asked half serious.

“Ooo, below the belt Kim,” Rai answered

“Didn’t need to be,” Clay answered for Raimundo. “Dyris didn’t hide a thing and told anyone who would listen.” Everyone looked surprised at the cowboy’s answer but he seemed to ignore them and turned to Raimundo. “Did I ever mention that I hated you dating her?”

“Well this is fun time lunch conversation,” Keiko said with a roll of her eyes.

“And speak of the devil,” Jermaine added and all at the table turned to see Dyris and her clones walking across the cafeteria. She glanced ever so subtly at the table and Rai’s hand went to cover Kimiko’s on the table.

“Don’t let that siren get to you,” Keiko said to no on in particular.

“I’ve got that down,” Rai assured them as the bell rang. Everyone stood and dumped their trash in cans and placed their trays in the right spot.

“I’m going to get a water,” Kimiko said as an after thought, “anyone want anything?” When everyone shook their heads no Kimiko waved them away and promised to see them later. With the food lines shut down Kimiko was forced to walk to the other end of the dining hall in search of the drink machines. She was just pulling out her wallet when a familiar voice fell on her ears. Kimiko wouldn’t have thought of anything of it but it was a second voice that joined the first in a low mummer that caught Kimiko’s attention. Cautiously Kimiko stuck her head around the corner where the drink machines sat and saw what she considered the oddest pair in the whole world. ‘What the heck,’ Kimiko wondered, ‘do Dyris and Chase Young have to talk about?’

“What are you looking at?” a voice whispered behind Kimiko causing her to nearly jump out of her skin.

“Keiko!” she hissed and motioned to the girl to be quiet and to look around the corner with her.

“What the heck?” Keiko whispered when she saw the two who were now going their separate ways.

“My thoughts exactly,” Kimiko said looking back at her best friend.

“What do they have to talk to about?” Keiko wondered. “I thought Chase pretty much hated Dyris and anyone like her.”

“Me too,” Kimiko agreed. “But at the same time who really cares? I mean it’s got nothing to do with us.”

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A week later Kimiko was grimacing at another bad Economics grade as she sat on her bed. The feeling in the room was sober at best. It was Keiko’s first day free of detention but the girl was in a bad mood and the two seemed to feed of one another. Kimiko had asked Keiko what was wrong when the girl sulked into the room but she’d mumbled ‘nothing’ and rolled over to take a nap. Kimiko was confident to that it had something to do with the fact that the Valentines’ Day dance Saturday night and Jermaine hadn’t asked her out yet but Kimiko didn’t feel the need to pry.

“I’m going out for a little while,” Kimiko told her roommate, assuming that she wasn’t actually asleep- just sulking. Keiko weakly waved a hand in response and Kimiko slipped out of the room. She wasn’t really sure where she was going, she was still banned from the library for another week or so and the common room wasn’t holding much appeal at the moment for some reason. Raimundo was at soccer practice so there was no fun to be had there. She could always just go visit Clay or maybe Jermaine was still on campus or even Omi.

“You look lost Tohomiko, and this is your dorm,” a voice broke into her thoughts. Whirling around was surprised to Chase standing smirking in the hallway behind her.

“What are you doing in the girls’ dorm?” was her first gut reaction but she felt bad as soon as she said it, wondering if it was too rude.

“The senior class vice president lives on your floor,” Chase explained simply.

“Oh,” Kimiko responded feeling foolish since it was such a reasonable explanation.

“What’s that in your hand?” it was Chase’s turn to be blunt. Kimiko glanced down at her hand realizing that she was still holding her quiz. Sheepishly she held it up for him to see.

“B-, not terrible,” he observed but noted her face, “why so down then?”

“A’s would be better,” she shrugged. “That’s the highest grade that I’ve gotten in the class and to pull up my grade from all those C’s I need some A’s.”
“How about a tutor?” he offered and Kimiko smiled.

“I feel like I’m taking advantage of you,” Kimiko grimaced not wanting to take advantage of his generosity.

“You aren’t taking advantage of me,” Chase corrected her. “If anything it is the other way around.” Kimiko’s eyes narrowed at his comment.

“Ok, then no, I don’t need a tutor,” Kimiko had already told him that he couldn’t be like that around her.

“Sorry,” he grinned his usually cool grin that always had Kimiko thinking he was hiding something sinister, “old habits die hard.” (AN: Is Chase just way too OOC in this story? I think he might be but at the same time all of the characters are a little OOC but for some reason I’ve got a feeling that Chase would be cocky like this in high school)

“Well thanks but no thanks,” Kimiko snapped rolling her eyes.

“Don’t be stupid Tohomiko,” Chase said, “let me tutor you. I’ll behave.” Kimiko sighed feeling defeated.

“Do I have a choice?”
“Do you want an A in the class?”

“I’ll get my coat.”

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“Why are we meeting a coffee shop?” Chase asked a half an hour later. Kimiko looked sheepish as she placed her notebook on the table.

“I got banned from the library,” Kimiko explained.

“Or do you just not want your boyfriend to see us?” Chase inquired.

“That would be ironic since he’s the one that got me banned from the library,” Kimiko grumbled.

“That sounds like a story,” Chase said taking a sip of his drink.

“That I don’t’ really feel like sharing,” Kimiko answered. “Now, economics, please?”

“Sure,” Chase complied. “What areas are you having trouble in?”

“What don’t’ I get?” Kimiko answered with a sigh. “It’s like I read the words and grasp what they are saying but can’t process it.”

“Ok then,” Chase said sympathetically, “let’s start at the beginning.”

The two remained bent over Kimiko’s books along with her notes and Chase’s old notebook for nearly an hour, processing terms and economic theory.

“I think the problem is that I just really don’t care,” Kimiko said stretching her arms over her head.

“That could be a problem,” Chase agreed. “Do you want something else to drink?” he asked noticing how they were both out of their choice of beverages.

“Sure,” she said with a smile reminding him of what she was drinking and then handing over some money, insisting on paying for both of their drinks. Chase hadn’t been away more then a minute when her phone vibrating in her pocket caught her attention. Flipping it open she saw the screen glowing with Rai’s name and answered cheerfully.

“I can barely hear you,” came his reply, “where are you?” Kimiko looked overhead at the speaking beating steadily above her.

“Hang on,” she told him getting up and stepping away from her table figuring that with Chase in the line she wouldn’t need to worry about their things.
“Is that better?” Kimiko asked glancing at the table just to be safe.

“Yeah,” Rai agreed and then asked again. “Where are you?”

“In a coffee shop,” she said purposely being vague.

“With Keiko?” he questioned.

“Honestly?” Kimiko answered back.

“Well you what they say about the honesty policy,” Rai answered and Kimiko smiled.

“With Chase Young,” she answered waiting for an explosion.

“Pardon?” came Rai quiet response after a moment’s pause.

“Chase Young,” Kimiko repeated, “he’s tutoring me in Economics and since I’m banned from the library and the common room was too crowded we came to a coffee shop.” Kimiko could see Raimundo in her mind’s eyes mulling this all over in his head.

“You almost done?” he practically chocked out. Kimiko glanced at the watch on her wrist.

“Yeah, after we finish our drinks we’ll head out,” Kimiko promised. “Half an hour, forty five minutes tops.”

“Ok, I’ll see you then,” Rai said sounding a little sad.

“Hey? You ok?” Kimiko inquired.

“Yeah,” Rai anwered, “just kinda tired I guess and everyone seems a little, I don’t know, melancholy around here.”

“I’ll be back soon,” Kimiko promised, “and don’t forget I love you,” she reminded him.

“Love you too,” he answered and the two hung up.

“Raimundo waiting for you?” Chase questioned from behind her. Kimiko spun around in surprise not liking the way he always seemed to catch her off guard.

“Yeah, he was just wondering where I was,” Kimiko explained.

“And what did you tell him?” Chase asked with a raised eyebrow as the two sat back down.

“That you were tutoring me in a coffee shop and that I’d be back soon,” Kimiko’s voice trailed off when she notice the two heart shaped cookies waiting on the table with there drinks. It was Kimiko’s turn to raise her eyebrows.

“I promise you,” Chase said defensively, “girl at the counter gave me them for free cause of the holiday.”

“Oh,” Kimiko said simply thinking it sounded believable enough.

“And Raimundo was ok with you being alone at a coffee shop with me?” Chase questioned.

“Why wouldn’t he be?” Kimiko wondered aloud.

“I over heard him the other day in the library,” Chase said and Kimiko’s face darkened slightly.

“It’s not polite to eavesdrop,” she scolded trying to forget that the fact that she’d been spying on him and Dyris. Chase didn’t have an answer for that but just took a sip of his drink, amber eyes locked on her.

“Shall we get back to work?” he asked a second later. Kimiko sighed and turned back to her books.

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