for the first time in his life, Ryosuke felt safe with some one. he held on to her and put his head on hers. he was Thinking about kissing her when a shot from a gun broke the window

" Shit get down.... what the hell was that" said Ryosuke covering Reiko with his body

Reiko heard the shot, and saw Ryosuke's chest in front of her eyes before she could do anything else. She squirmed from beneath him and dropped to the floor, sitting against the wall.

"Gun shot!" She shouted. "Shit! Those dudes must have found us! We gotta get away from here, Ryosuke!"

" im not leaving..ill die before that happens" said Ryosuke as he took out his gun from under the bed

" i wont leave.... not now"

"Not run away, Ryosuke," Reiko said, trying to clarify her thoughts. "We have to get out of the apartment - we're sitting ducks if we stay here. It'll be easier to deal with these people out in the open, where we have a bigger environment to work with."

She grabbed the gun Ryosuke had given her the day before and cocked it. "Bring it."

Ryosuke kicked out the window and jumped out of it onto the street

" lets do this thing"

"Right behind you, partner," Reiko said. She leapt out the window as well, and followed Ryosuke into the street.

She tried to catch a glimpse of whoever it could have been that shot at them, but the sudden sound of another bullet made her bring her attention back to the pavement.

"We could go to the abandoned building about two blocks from here," she suggested as they began running. "No one would get hurt if we fought in there."

" yeah just stay close to me alright" said Ryosuke as another bullet flew past his head.

" damn it...who the hell" said Ryosuke

Reiko grabbed Ryosuke's arm as he made a move to turn around. "C'mon, Ryo-kun."

They didn't have time to be looking for their attackers, not right now, anyway. They had to gather their bearings. Reiko could see the building up ahead, and she pulled harder at Ryosuke's sleeve.

He grasped her hand as she pulled him closer to her. the entered the building

" im glad you could make it Ryosuke Sanjo" said a voice comming from the top floor

" Show your self" said Ryosuke

" you'll see me soon enough" Said the voice as a shot just missed Ryosuke

"Shit!" Reiko let out a curse as the bullet whizzed so close to Ryosuke. She took a step forward, confident in her fighting skills as always.

"Quit playing games," she said. "Show yourself. Unless you're scared, that is."

" shut the fuck up you bitch" said The voice as a bullet grazed Reiko's arm

" YOUR GOING TO PAY FOR THAT" screamed Ryosuke

Reiko winced slightly, but grabbed Ryosuke to restrain him.

"Don't be an idiot!" she shouted. She was using both hands to hold the raging teen back, and it was no easy task. "You run in there all hot-headed and you forget he's got a gun! He wants you to do that! There's nothing easier than shooting a target head-on!"

She looked at the slice on her arm. It was bleeding and stinging, but nothing major. "I'm alright, relax. It was only a graze - don't lose your head over my sake, Ryosuke. This fight is not going to work if you keep worrying about me. Keep your head clear."

" GET OFFA ME DAMN IT... HE HURT YOU ANY ONE WHO HURTS YOU WILL DIE" said Ryosuke shooting blindly in the night

" whats the matter sanjo... you sad that you cant protect her... its kinda like how you couldnt protect your mother" said the voice Ryosuke knelt down with tears in his eyes

" i..couldnt... protect... her..." he said as his eyes grew wider

" i... failed..."

Reiko took off after Ryosuke as he bounded away. She cursed, wondering why he was so intent on protecting her. She was the one who loved him, anyway. If Ryosuke was willing to do so much for her, why couldn't he admit that he also loved her? Unless he didn't...

She caught up to Ryosuke, who had just been told that he had failed protecting his mother. He was standing still, shocked. Reiko grabbed his hand.

"Don't listen to him, Ryosuke," Reiko shouted authoritatively. "He doesn't know what he's talking about."

"Whoever the hell you are, come out!" she challenged. "We're ready to fight! But you're such a coward that you'd prefer to stay hidden rather than face your opponents!"

" but he does Rei-chan.... he knows what hes talking about" said Ryosuke pointing the gun at his own head

" im sorry rei-chan"

"What, Ryosuke?" Reiko grabbed at his gun hand. "What the hell are you thinking of doing? It's not gonna help anyone if you take your life right now! We're supposed to do this together! Ryosuke!"

" but hes right... hes right rei-chan.... i cant live like this" said Ryosuke crying

"Ryosuke, damn it!" She could feel tears begin to well up in her eyes, but she was determined not to let them show. "Ryosuke, stop, please! What could be possibly know?! He's probably just read your file in the school councilor's office! He doesn't know anything!"

"You can keep on living!"

" but its all true... what kinda man am i" said Ryosuke shaking

"You're a strong man!" She yelled. "You can do better than this! You're better than this guy! Ryosuke, think!"