A/N: well, i think i've finally decided to write something that wasn't a oneshot. it still might not be the longest thing in the world, but whatever. it took me a LONG time to figure out whether i should do a narumiXyuka pairing or a shikiXpairing. it really did. i wanted to use shiki SOOOO bad, but i felt as though the story fit narumi's character better. what do you think?

oh, and just as a note, i'm going to be straying a bit from the actual storyline. so for all of you diehard GA manga fans, don't flame me when you realize the stuff that's happening isn't actually in the manga. no wait. on second thought, do flame me. at least it will get me some reviews. ;D

it's up to you guys as to how long i should make this. to be honest, i was just thinking maybe two or three chapters, but if you really like it and want it to be longer PLEASE REVIEW!!!

Disclaimer: don't own this. sigh, now that that's over, drum roll please . . .

What the Ring Finger Knows

CHAPTER ONE

Narumi sat down on underneath the sakura tree with a satisfied sigh. He opened his bento lunch from the cafeteria and remarked cheerfully, "It's been a while since we've gotten to eat together, huh Yuka-sempai? It's a good thing that both middle school and high school have the same lunch period."

Yuka was quiet as she tucked her legs underneath her and fiddled with the blades of grass. She didn't look like she had even heard Narumi.

"Hello? Earth to Sempai!" Narumi said, waving his hand in front of her face and getting way too close.

Yuka jumped in surprise. "Sorry. You were saying?"

Narumi frowned. "Jeez, Yuka-sempai. Lunch isn't very fun if you're just going to daze out on me the whole time. We rarely get to spend time together anymore. At least pretend like your mind isn't drifting off in another galaxy."

Yuka flashed him a small, sheepish smile. "You're right."

Yuka looked so cute then, smiling and looking up at them, that Narumi had to fight a blush. He ducked his head so that Yuka couldn't see. She had willingly volunteered to eat lunch with him, even though it was awkward for her since she knew about his feelings. Narumi couldn't let his emotions get out of hand. What if Yuka decided to avoid him again? But still, as he inspected his bento, he couldn't help but scoot a little closer to Yuka. A fact that was not lost on that particular girl. She stiffened. "Narumi, too close," she protested, trying to push him back. She turned her head, looking away.

"No, I'm not," Narumi teased, placing an arm around her shoulders and pulling her close again. "Awww, can you believe it? I didn't get any omelets today. I hate being a two star," he complained overdramatically with a wide smile. "Three stars always get omelets with their bento, right? Then I'm gonna steal one of yours."

But Yuka never reacted, not even when Narumi's chopsticks inched towards her bento. She just stared off into space.

Narumi frowned and clicked his chopsticks together, trying to get her attention. When that didn't work, he shook her shoulders. "Yuka-sempai!!!"

She jumped, snapping out of it again with a blush. She was acting pretty jumpy today. Scratch that. She was just acting plain weird. She wasn't herself at all.

"I'm sorry. It's just . . . I have a lot on my mind," Yuka mumbled. "Finals, you know?" She brushed stray locks out of her face, a gesture that almost appeared nervous. That's when Narumi saw it.

Narumi snatched Yuka's hands. Yuka jumped for a third time and looked at him in shock. "Narumi, what are you doing?" she asked.

Without a word, he released her left hand and brought her right hand closer to his face. "Yuka-sempai," he began slowly, trying to stay calm. Yuka heard the barely controlled rage in his voice, and she shrank back a little. But he wouldn't let go of her hand. "Yuka-sempai, what is this?"

"My hand. Now let go," Yuka whispered, trying to break free.

"Not your hand. What is this?" He spat out the last word like it tasted foul.

"What does it look like? It's a ring!" Yuka snapped. She finally managed to jerk free from Narumi, and she turned her back on him. She folded her arms, discreetly making sure that her right hand was hidden. "It's no big deal."

Unfortunately, Narumi wasn't giving up so easily. Yuka tensed as she felt him scoot closer behind her. She could feel his breath against the tip of her ear as he asked, "What kind of ring?"

"Just a ring. I can't wear jewelry when I want to?"

"It doesn't look like an ordinary ring. Not one you would wear, anyway."

"So?"

"Yuka-sempai . . ." Narumi trailed off. His voice sounded desperate, wounded. The sound of it made Yuka's heart bleed. She couldn't bear to look at him. Narumi rested his chin against her shoulder. With him that close, their cheeks were touching. And the contact burned. At least, it did for Yuka.

"Was it . . . you know . . . him?" Narumi questioned forlornly. He closed his eyes, as if he didn't want to hear.

Yuka stiffened. She knew without a doubt that he was talking about Shiki.

"You're wrong," Yuka whispered.

Narumi's eyes flew open in shock. What? Not Shiki? He hadn't expected this. He hadn't spent that much time away from Yuka, had he? He hadn't been completely oblivious to some other guy vying for his sempai's affection, had he?

"Yukihara-sensei?" Narumi guessed.

But Yuka shook her head. She bit her lip.

"Then who?" he asked, completely baffled.

Yuka frowned resolutely. "I'm not telling."

"Come on, Yuka-sempai," Narumi prodded, genuinely curious. He gave her a little nudge. "You have to tell me."

"I don't want to. You'll get mad."

"No, I won't."

"You're lying."

"Just tell me." Narumi snaked his arm around Yuka and touched the ring. "Who gave this to you?"

Yuka hesitated. She held herself, as if bracing against the storm that was sure to come. Then . . .

". . . The Elementary School Principal," Yuka whispered, barely breathing.

Narumi's reaction was sudden and explosive, as Yuka had fearfully predicted. He jumped to his feet and wrenched Yuka up as well.

"WHAT!" Narumi shouted, shaking her shoulders. "You're engaged to that bastard!"

"You don't understand," Yuka defended hoarsely, half-heartedly.

"Then enlighten me," he hissed, "as to why you would be willing to marry a man you don't even like!"

"Who says I don't like Principal Kuonji?"

"Don't give me that crap. You're too obvious when you're lying."

"Then I'll tell you the truth. I'm marrying him whether you like it or not!"

Yuka ripped free from his grasp and started to walk away, her head hanging. The anger in Narumi dissipated. "Yuka-sempai, wait," he called desperately.

Yuka stubbornly refused to stop or turn around. She didn't even glance over her shoulder. Narumi quickly embraced her from behind in order to keep her from escaping. He held her tightly. Her waist never seemed so tiny and little before. Yuka suddenly seemed so fragile, like she needed to be handled with care and gentle hands. Something Narumi was sure the ESP couldn't do.

Narumi breathed in the scent of his sempai's hair to calm him down. Then he whispered, "Why him?"

Yukihara he could handle. He could even deal with Shiki. But to have Principal Kuonji steal Yuka away from him? Narumi refused to believe that Yuka might like the principal back.

"Why him? Please don't tell me this is some sort of mission. Don't tell me you're stupid enough to do something on your own. Or have you just given up and are giving into the elementary principal's demands?" Narumi pulled Yuka even closer, holding her tightly, afraid to let go. "I could help you. I could protect you."

"It's something only I can do," Yuka murmured after a while. "I need to win his trust. I had to find a way to get close to him."

"And how close are you going to let him get until you decide things have gone too far?"

"We're going to be married, aren't we?" she said. Her reply was so quiet that for a moment Narumi didn't think he had heard correctly.

Instead of feeling angry, Narumi just felt sick and in shock. His arms slid off her numbly. Yuka took this as an opportunity, and she immediately started to run away. She never looked back.

"Principal Kuonji, there's someone who wishes to see you."

Kuonji looked up from his desk, pausing in the middle of his paper work. "Oh? Bring whoever it is in."

"Yes sir."

The secretary dashed off outside the room, only to walk back in with a newcomer a few seconds later. When the newcomer stepped from out of the shadows, the principal realized that it was Narumi.

"Thank you. You may leave," Kuonji told the secretary. She bowed and shut the doors behind her with a click.

The room was quiet. Even in the dim lighting, the principal could see Narumi's eyes. There was something heavy and serious weighing in the teenager's mind. That much the man could figure out.

"Well, well, Narumi. It's rare that you actually come to see me in person," Kuonji remarked. He laced his fingers together and rested his chin on his hands, staring at the student in interest. "What is it you wish to tell me? Is it about one of your missions I sent you on? I trust that they're running smoothly."

"That's not it," Narumi muttered quietly. He was staring at the principal too. Narumi never blinked as he gazed at the man. Not once.

Kuonji smiled widely. He wasn't affected by Narumi's stare down, not in the slightest. "Then please, do tell the real reason. I'm rather busy at the moment. Is there something you need me to do?"

". . . yes."

Narumi took a step forward, and then another. He slowly edged closer to the principal's desk. When he reached it, he hesitated, as if unsure how to proceed. Then, without warning, Narumi snatched the lamp on the desk and threw it at the wall. As it shattered into pieces and unleashed darkness into the room, Narumi snarled, "Go die!"

A/N: Ooo! cliff hanger! don't we all just love these? what does narumi do? well, i guess you just have to find out later. in the meantime, review review REVIEW!!! ^^