"Did you read the notes over?"

"Yes."

"Did you look over the study guide I made you?"

"Yes." He growled.

"Do you have the sentences memori-"

"For the sake of all that is holy Sumi yes!" Ryuu growled as he answered her repeated questions while they sat together at lunch. He looked really annoyed and she could swear she saw his eye twitch. She smiled and giggled at the way he was glaring at her. He snorted and returned his attention to his book, trying to focus as much as he could with her bugging him.

"I'm sorry Ryuu. I think I'm more nervous than you are. I just want you to do well on this exam." She said and he glanced up at her, grinning slightly.

"Afraid I'll fire you?" He teased and she puffed out her cheeks.

"Just remember that if you fire me you'll probably have to deal with someone worse after."

"No one's worse than you." He chuckled and quickly dodged the strawberry she threw at his head. He laughed again and went back to reading as Natsumi pouted, but focused back on her own studying. She had a history exam today as well, so she should be focusing on her own scores. Still, she glanced at Ryuu wondering if he was nervous about the test today. He didn't show any outward signs, but she didn't expect him to. He glanced up to see her looking at him and rolled his eyes, sighing as he closed his book.

"What?" He asked and she shrugged, sipping on her cola as she thought quietly to herself.

"Come on Sumi. I know that look. Just say what you're thinking." He said and she felt her cheeks heat up at the nickname he had given her. She also saw him smirk at the pink tint, which made her groan silently. She sighed and smiled up at him.

"I was just wondering if you were actually confident about today or if you were just trying to hide it like you do with everything else." She said and he smiled, chuckling softly as he scratched the back of his head.

"I'm a little nervous, but only because if I don't do well I'm afraid there will be no mercy. You are already an unbearable tyrant during our sessions." He said and she glared, throwing another strawberry at him, this time catching him with it.

"If I'm so horrible, why don't you find someone else to deal with your annoying crap." She pouted and he grinned as he reached across the table and patted her on the head.

"Because I enjoy making you miserable far too much to quit now." He teased and although she tried to hold it in, she ended up laughing loudly which made Ryuu grin as well.

"You are horrible." She giggled and his grin widened as he flicked her forehead softly.

"But you love it." He teased and she laughed again, turning as the bell rang for the end of lunch. She threw her trash away and grabbed her notebooks as she caught up to where Ryuu was waiting for her. The two walked together as Natsumi couldn't help but quiz him a bit more. Eventually he grew so annoyed that he wrapped his arm around her and covered her mouth. Her muffled protests fell on deaf ears as he chuckled and continued to hold her against him. Natsumi felt pricks along the back of her neck and turned her head just enough to catch the death glares of a group of girls. She turned back, but some of her good mood had left. She knew that they were just jealous of her friendship with Ryuu, but it didn't make ignoring them any easier. She glanced up at Ryuu to see him smiling easily as he held her captive and her worries melted away. She wouldn't say it out loud, but his nickname for her meant a lot. It meant that she was different from everyone else and that he saw her as she truly was.

She pinched his side, just under his ribs and he released her with a growl. She giggled and waved as she walked into her classroom. Then she thought of something and went back out into the hall and cupped her hands over her mouth.

"Good luck Ryuu! Don't make me look bad!" She called and he stopped as his head fell forward for a second. But when he turned he was smiling as he lifted his hand.

"Well we wouldn't want that Sumi. I'll try not to screw up too bad." He teased and she laughed as she waved once more before entering her class again. She may have been teasing about making her look good, but she really was rooting for him on this. Because if he got a good mark on this test it meant that he wasn't a lost cause and that they could get him a passing grade this year.

"Good luck Ryuu. Do your best." She whispered once more as she took her seat.

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The bell rang and Natsumi jumped up, excited to get out and see how he did. She grabbed her bag and ran for the door. She saw him leaning against the wall as usual and lifted her hand in greeting.

"Ryuu! How did it-" She squeaked as something caught her foot and she fell forward. She threw her hands out and managed to prevent herself from face planting on the floor, but her knees weren't so lucky as they scraped hard along the tile. She cringed at the stinging and tears pricked the corner of her eyes. She heard a dry chuckle and several giggles as her classmates walked around her. One snickered as he glanced down at her with his cold, blue eyes that peeked out from under shaggy black hair. Koji grinned as he said,

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"Sorry. Didn't see you there Kimoto. You're so easy to miss." He chuckled and the girls around him giggled as one whispered,

"A pet belongs on the floor anyways, so it's perfect for her."

Natsumi took a deep breath and fisted her hands on the tile to keep them from shaking. Her head jerked up when she heard Koji grunt and saw him being shoved away by an angry Ryuu. His red eyes were focused on her as he knelt down and offered his hand. She took it and he helped her stand, glaring at those around them.

"Come on Sumi, let's get you to the nurse." He said and began to steer her away from the group. He stopped though when he was parallel with Koji and pierced the boy with a look that could kill. Koji stepped back, reading the threat in the gaze as Ryuu moved them past and led Natsumi all the way to the nurse's. When they entered, it was obvious that the nurse was out. Ryuu sighed and before Natsumi could react he grabbed her around her hips and lifted her onto one of the exam tables. He left her and moved about the office, finding cotton balls and antiseptic to clean the scrapes with.

When he had what he needed he returned to her and poured the liquid onto the cotton and began to clean her wound for her. She hissed at the stinging and he glanced up at her.

"Sorry. I have to clean them though." He whispered and she gave him a smile letting him know she was fine. She watched silently as he worked and noted how his brow was furrowed in concentration.

"You know that you don't have to do this Ryuu. I'm fine." She said and he shrugged, still cleaning the wounds. She sighed and waited until he was done and her knees were bandaged. He straightened up and disposed of the dirty cotton and wiped his hands off. She smiled and felt the need to lighten the mood as she could read the tension in his shoulders.

"Will I live doctor?" She teased and smiled as she saw Ryuu instantly relax as he grinned back at her.

"I think I managed to save your legs Ms. Kimoto. So you will be able to run into as many walls as your heart contends." He said and she huffed as she jumped off the exam table and placed her hands on her hips.

"I don't run into walls!" She said and he grinned.

"Probably because they learned to just get out of the way." He laughed and grabbed their bags, handing hers over. She sighed and shook her head as she snatched hers back. The two left the nurse's and began to head to their next classes. Ryuu left her and headed off to his and it was only after he had walked away that she remembered she had forgotten to ask about his test.

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After school Ryuu wasn't waiting for Natsumi outside of her class. He had headed for the lockers, needing to interfere. It hadn't gone away with him ignoring it and it seemed that Natsumi wasn't going to say anything, so he would. He heard them laughing as they entered the locker area.

"Face first. It was the funniest thing I've seen all year. Kimoto has got to be the biggest klutz around." He laughed and Ryuu's teeth clenched as his eyes shot over to where they would appear. He heard a girl snort as she huffed,

"Serves her right for thinking she can cling to Ryuu-sama like that. Honestly, why is he even giving her the time of day?"

That was when they stepped out where he could see them and he spoke up, making the pair jump.

"For one, she's nothing like the other simpering idiots that go here."

The girl whipped around so fast that her blonde curls slapped the side of her face before settling back into place as her wide green eyes stared at him in shock. The guy at her side was the same one that had tripped Sumi earlier. Ryuu's sight had been fast enough to catch the guy's foot sweeping out. The two froze as Ryuu lifted himself up from his spot and walked towards them. His hands were in his pockets, balled into fists as he glared at the other male.

"I think it's time I made something clear." He growled and noticed how the girl slinked back behind the boy and the guy swallowed nervously. Ryuu continued as he came to stand directly in front of Koji. Both were the about the same height with Ryuu having maybe an inch on the other guy.

"Natsumi Kimoto is to be left alone. No matter what anyone does it won't change our relationship. But it will tick me off." He growled and Koji must have thought he could push the pretty boy further because he was dumb enough to open his mouth. He held up his hands and grinned, missing the way Ryuu's eyes flashed in warning.

"Sorry Yoshida. I didn't realize that she was so close to you." He chuckled and Ryuu frowned at the implication, but chose to ignore it as he turned away.

"Just make sure those fan girls understand as well." He growled and Koji grinned as he said what he shouldn't have.

"Sure thing. But tell me...When you're done playing with the pet's tail, can I have a go?"

Ryuu felt his chest seize as he snapped. He turned so quickly that Koji couldn't react fast enough before his collar was grabbed and he was slammed up against the lockers. The girl with him screamed and backed up as Ryuu placed his arm against Koji's throat, pinning him in place. Ryuu's eyes narrowed as he hissed,

"Maybe I wasn't clear enough for someone with such a small brain. Natsumi has become a close friend of mine and anyone who threatens or disrespects my friends grows to regret it. So I trust that you won't make such a disgusting comment within my hearing again. Right?" He growled and Koji could only nod once as he was too shocked to speak. Ryuu grunted and stepped back, releasing the kid who immediately took off. The girl was following close behind and Ryuu guessed that she would pass the message along with the other idiot. He knew it wouldn't stop the problem completely, but it would make people more hesitant about coming after Sumi when she was with him.

He turned and took up his usual spot by her locker as he waited. It was another fifteen minutes before she came sailing around the corner, almost losing her balance. She stopped and doubled over to catch her breath as she tried to explain.

"Sorry...Got stopped...ran some papers...I know I'm late..." She heaved as she tried to stabilize her air flow. He chuckled as he waited for her to straighten and right herself. She quickly changed her shoes and turned to smile brightly at him. He returned the smile, knowing that he could never tell her that he relied on her smiles. They were freely given without any hints of selfishness laced underneath. Sumi wasn't looking for something more when she was with him and he could see it in her gentle smile.

"Sorry to keep you waiting Ryuu. I hope you weren't bored waiting." She laughed as they began to leave. He shrugged and looked up at the sky with a smirk.

"Not too bored..." He chuckled.