You crossed your fingers under your desk in the chemistry lab. You prayed that your new partner was the man of your dreams.

Sleepily, your teacher pulled two more slips of paper from the hat and said, "_________, you'll be paired with Kiyoshi Teppei."

You sighed, disappointed you didn't get the guy you've been after all year.

Junpei Hyuga... 'Way out of your league' type of guy... But he had charmed you.

Plus you liked guys who wore glasses.

Kiyoshi took his spot next to you and smiled, "Looks like we'll be partners."

You smiled back, trying to look friendly. Internally, you realized what a relief it was that Junpei didn't sit next to you. What sort of anxiety would that boy put you through when you just tried to come up with something to say to him?!

You didn't pay attention to the lesson. It was elementary anyway, it wasn't until the very end when you heard the word "demonic." You perked up, not realizing your interest. It was just...out of place for a teacher of science to use such a religious word like "demonic." You noticed that he was discussing horrible processes poisons make the body go through.

"You and your partner will work together to write a report about different types of common poison compounds. You way choose a natural poison, like Hemlock or Fox Glove. Or a completely chemical one, like Arsenic."

You raised your hand slowly, "Sir?"

"Yes Ms. __________?"

"Why are we learning about poison in school?"

He grinned, "It's because poison is a basic thing in chemistry! It makes people marvel with how elaborate it can be! It also gives me the chance to say 'Pick your poison.'"

The class gave a small crowd of laughter.

Just then you heard Kiyoshi mutter something under his breath.

"What?" you asked in a low voice.

Kiyoshi smiled and pushed a piece of paper with the word "Aconite" scrawled on it.

The note was immediately picked up by your teacher.

He smiled, impressed, "It seems ________ and Kiyoshi have already decided on their poison."

He raised the paper in the air, "Aconite! One of the top ten most deadly poisons in the world! Arsenic, being at number one. More commonly referred to as "Wolf's Bane" because chickens were covered in it to kill the wolves. I looks forward to reading your report. However I have a question."

You pointed to him, "His idea, I haven't heard of Aconite until today."

He nodded, "Many people know about it. It's a common plant but...not something commonly mentioned by that name. How did you come up with it so quickly Mr. Teppei?"

"It's just something I remember...my mother used to tell me..." he smiled,

"Just one bite,

Aconite,

Aconite,

Dead tonight,

Aconite,

Aconite."

"You're mother's a very smart woman. Now, moving on!"

You glanced at Kiyoshi curiously. He then leaned over and whispered, "Why don't I come to your place? We can work on it there."

You nodded, "Okay..."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You poured Kiyoshi his tea and sighed, "Wow....You know a lot more about this than me...."

"Not really...."

"Oh really? Then how do you know everything about Aconite?!" You questioned.

He held up his phone, "Internet."

You smacked your forehead, "We need to get our wifi fixed or I'm gonna go insane."

He smiled, "Insanity isn't so bad."

You smirked and raised your eyebrows, "All right, I'll play. What about insanity isn't bad?"

"Freedom, in a way."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, think of this as your mind," Kiyoshi stood up and walked to your fridge. He pulled a medium sized egg from the tray. He grabbed a sharpie and scribbled on the shell.

"We are bound by rules right? Not just ones the big guy puts down, but also...rules of life."

"I'm listening..." you said.

"So...things that are considered 'moral.' Like 'don't lie,'" he wrote it on the shell of the egg, "'don't steal' and 'don't kill.'"

He turned to you, "Have you ever done any of these things?"

You nodded, "Absolutely."

He tapped the egg against the counter. It cracked a bit but didn't completely break.

"Now, humans are given punishments to repent for their wrong-doings. When we complete these, we become a shiny new egg again. Clean slate. We are taught what is bad at a young age to lessen our want to do bad things when we get older. I like to think that insanity is when you continue to do bad things, while also facing the punishment, but for some reason, you don't heal."

He tapped the egg against the counter a few more time before it broke. He poured the contents in the sink and smiled, "Broken eggs, broken minds."

"How poetic," you grinned.

"Ah, it's just something I came up with," he grinned. "Now let's get back to work."

A little while later, Kiyoshi looked over at you, "Say ________.... Do you want to.....want to go somewhere this Saturday?"

Your eyes lit up, "Sure! How about at noon? We can get lunch~! I'm so excited~!"

He smiled, looking relieved.

"After all, I hardly have any friends~!" you laughed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

After reciting the report, you sat down, mouth slightly dry. You felt something touch your back. You turned around to see Junpei, poking your back with a water bottle. You took it and mouthed, "Thanks."

He smiled, "No problem."

You blushed. You looked at your feet and took a sip. You looked at it confused. Do you keep this bottle? Do you give it back to Junpei?

Junpei answered for you. He snatched the bottle from your hand and took a sip. You blushed.

'And indirect kiss!'

You kept looking away from Junpei. Kiyoshi noticed your strange behavior and you said you were all right.

Junpei finished his report and sat back down, handing you the bottle again. On the wrapper in Sharpie, the words 'Saturday, noon.'

You smiled, your heart soaring.

'A friend and a date....' You blushed.

You whispered over to Kiyoshi, "Hey, Junpei is going to join us on Saturday! Is that okay?"

He widened his eyes a bit before smiling, "That's fine..."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You chewed your thumbnail. Neither Kiyoshi or Junpei had shown up. You met them after class and asked them both to show up at the café a few blocks from Kiyoshi's house. However, it was already 12:30 and you hadn't seem them. You really hoped they were okay.

"________."

You turned your head to see Junpei. You ran up to him excitedly, "Junpei~! How's it-Oh my God! What happened to your head?"

He leaned forward and grabbed his head, blood dripped down the side of his face. He shook and sat down.

"Someone came out of nowhere and tried to attack me....It was just back there...."

"Are you okay?!" you cried, "Let me see if the café has a first aid kit!"

You ran in and asked for one, the counter girl handed you the box and you ran outside. You dabbed at his forehead and heard behind you, "Hey, what's going on?"

You looked behind you and saw Kiyoshi, "Junpei was just attacked!"

"What?! Are you okay captain?!" he rushed to the boy with glasses.

"I'm fine....Just a bump on the head is all...."

"Should you go home?" you asked concerned.

"I could take you captain," said Kiyoshi.

Junpei eyed Kiyoshi suspiciously before saying, "No...I'm fine. Let's get going."

"O-Oh well....I-I uh was thinking we could eat lunch!" you said, trying to brighten the mood.

He smiled, "All right..."

Kiyoshi sat down and smiled also, "So what should we get?"

You suddenly felt awkward. Why was this weird? You and Kiyoshi were friends. It must be because of Junpei. He probably felt awkward with his captain there.

"Here, let me get the coffee," said Kiyoshi, standing up. He smiled at you and came back with three cups. He handed you one and Junpei another and placed a sugar bowl on the table.

You put three teaspoons in and looked at Junpei, "Do you take it black?"

"Yeah, it's better for me anyway."

You smiled, "I guess it is...hehe~"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You laughed. It turned out, the rest of the day wasn't awkward. In fact, it was like having a nice day out with friends. You guys went street walking and people watching in Tokyo. It was really fun.

You and Junpei had dropped of Kiyoshi first and he had decided to walk you to your home.

"Hey Junpei," you said cautiously.

He turned to you and you blushed, "I've had this crush on you for the longest time now and I was wondering what you thought-?"

Suddenly a gunshot rag through the street. You watched as Junpei fell face forward, his blood creating a pool on the ground. You opened your mouth a screamed. You turned to the shooter and gasped.

"Kiyoshi...."

"Damn you _______....You fucking whore....You'll die tonight.... We all would have....Except Junpei didn't take the sugar...."

He walked over to you, eyes hollow and you could clearly see he was roughed up.

He gripped your shoulders and laughed, "Just a few more minutes.... In just a few minutes, the aconite I put in the sugar...It should be working by now...."

He smirked, "But I'm going right now. That way I'll be closer to death with you than Junpei....I love you _______."

"Just One Bite,
Dead Tonight,
Aconite,
Aconite."

You opened your mouth to say something but no words came out, you blinked and watched as Kiyoshi lifted the gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

Tears poured down your face, "What the fuck....."

"WHAT THE FUCK?!" you screamed. Suddenly, you felt a tremendous pain speeding through your veins. You grabbed your heart and fell to the ground. It felt like heartburn, but hurt much worse.

Your vision started to blur and you hit the ground. You stared at the sick smile, still frozen on Kiyoshi's face.

It was the last thing you saw before sinking into oblivion.