(Cut and paste is Goooooood! ^^)

Enough with the crap! Onto the story!

            Ryoko looked out at the dark, starry sky, from her bedroom. She sighed deeply, reflecting on her day. School had been awfully boring… and would continue to be that way for about a week.

            That blasted Kusanagi was out with the flu, or something like that. And there wasn't another soul alive who would dare stand up to Ryoko, thus resulting in continuous boredom.

             'Damnit, Kusanagi… why did you have to get sick?' She thought to herself. 'Maybe if I go yell at him to get better, he will…'

            "It's worth a try anyway," She shrugged, jumping up from her bed. She grabbed a coat and told Aunt Madoka where she was going.

            As she stepped out into the cool, autumn night, she felt the wind rush around her. Ryoko noted that Hitomi and herself would have to go winter shopping soon. 'Hitomi's so sweet, maybe I should have called her…' Ryoko thought as she looked at the crushed piece of paper with Shizuma's address on it. She walked through the streets, looking at all the houses, and the scarce people.

            "Ah…" The address finally matched, after about a half an hour. Ryoko looked at the house, and stared. It was a large house, well built and…

             "Damnit… for acting like a street thug he sure lives well," She walked up and knocked on the door. There was a shuffling from inside, and the door slowly creaked open.

             "Kobanwa, san. May I help you?" There was a pretty young lady, who looked about twenty, with short brown hair and wide, deep blue eyes.

             "Anou… I'm looking for Shizuma-kun… is he here?" Ryoko said nervously.

            The maid stared at her for a long moment.

            "Do I have the right house?" Ryoko questioned, looking from the paper to around the house.

             "Why… yes. Shizuma-san lives here. However, his parents forbade him from sparing with anyone while they were here," The woman said politely.

            Ryoko heaved a sigh of relief. Then she thought for a second, "Wait… he's not sick?"

            "Oh, No! Master Shizuma is quite well, but his parents prefer to have him home-schooled when they are home," The woman said, "He is done for today if you wish to talk with him."

             "Anou… hai…" Ryoko replied nervously.

            "Please come inside…?"

             "Mitsurugi Ryoko."

            "Please come inside Mitsurugi-san."

            Ryoko came inside and removed her sues, then followed the maid to a parlor, where she then left to fetch Shizuma. Ryoko looked around nervously, everything was so ornate and delicate. Everything looked so… expensive! Shizuma's parents must be exploding with money! With this class, you would think some of it would have soaked into Shizuma's head. But… no. Apparently culture isn't hereditary.

             "Ryoko?" A rough voice said from the door. Ryoko turned around to look into a pair of deep brown eyes. He smirked, "Kobanwa."

             "Kobanwa." Ryoko said back, just staring. He was dressed nicely, in a white, oxford shirt, and black pants. His navy hair was tied back and he lacked his trademark bandana.

            "What is it?" He asked, shoving his hands into his pockets and glaring at her slightly.

            "I've never seen you look so … nice!" She said, stifling a giggled. Suddenly she stopped, was it just her, or was he… blushing?

            "Yeah well… I won't have to wear the monkey suit for long. My 'rents are leaving soon," he shrugged her off.

            Ryoko looked around, "What do your parents…do?"

             "They're musicians," He shrugged, "World famous… and all that shit." He shrugged again, walking past Ryoko to a couch and draping himself across it.

            Ryoko looked at him. She saw, for the first time, how amazing his eyes were for the first time. She swallowed hard, feeling a strange tightening in her chest.

            "So… you aren't sick?"

            He snorted, "No. Stupid 'rents want to teach me themselves. They say I'm not getting a good education from 'public schooling'. Why in hell they think I care, is beyond me."

            "Oh…"

            He looked up at her, a few locks of hair falling over his eyes, "Exactly… what are you doing here?"

            Ryoko open her mouth and closed it. She was sure she must have looked like a blubbering fish. Why exactly was she here? She originally came to yell at him, but…

            "I was bored," She stated simply. Shizuma smirked.

            "You know if you were that bored you could have called me too," He shrugged, "But don't take my word."

            Ryoko was going to say something, but it slipped off her tongue before she opened her mouth. What exactly was happening to her? She's never had this problem before. She's always had been quick witted, and sharp tongued against him.

            "Hey, Ryoko, ya okay?" He questioned, raising an eyebrow.

             "Anou?"

            "Are? You? Okay? Geez, do I gotta spell it out?" He asked, crossing his arms over his chest and looking at her.

            "Ara! Daijoubu!" She said, laughing nervously.

            "Right. So…. Really… why did you come here?"