The title sounded creative and clever when I thought it up. Shut up.
--- Chapter One: Failed Plan #??? ---
The chirping of birds was all that could be heard that morning. The sky was a bright blue, the sun was shining, but something just seemed different. Inside the Takasu home, the lights were still off and the curtains closed, although morning had come. The front door opened, a small girl walking inside - Taiga Aisaka.
"Hey, Ryuji … Where's breakfast?" Taiga asked. She looked around, seeing the sleeping boy laying on a futon. She slowly walked over, giving him a hard kick as she rubbed her eyes, yawning. Ryuji sat up, rubbing his side in pain.
"Taiga … What do you want?" He asked with his eyes only half open. "I already made your breakfast, it's on the table …" Ryuji stretched his arms out, yawning loudly before laying down. "Eat as much as you want …" He said, closing his eyes.
"Wake up, stupid dog!" Taiga yelled as she kicked him again, sending him flying into the wall. "You're going to eat with me like a dog should!" Taiga said, crossing her arms. "Now go warm it up for me." Ryuji sighed at her words, yawning as he stood up.
"Fine, fine … Go wash your face and it'll be ready when you get back …" Ryuji said, walking out of the room. Taiga nodded with a look of frustration on her face.
"Stupid dog …" She said as she left the room.
After she finished in the bathroom, she headed into the kitchen to see a plate of food sitting on a table in front of her. Ryuji gave her a small smile as he saw he enter the room.
"Mornin'." He said as Taiga sat down, nodding a reply. "Go ahead and eat up." Ryuji said. Taiga took no time in listening to this as she began eating, the food disappearing in minutes.
"Seconds." She said, holding the plate forward. Ryuji sighed, shaking his head.
"Sorry, not today. I made everything we have. We'll have to go to the Store later." He said. Taiga looked angry, but there wasn't much she could do. Ryuji walked from the room, looking at the clock on his stereo. He turned to Taiga as he grabbed a bag from the floor. "Come on, if we leave now we won't be late."
The two left the house, heading down the street and soon running into Minori and Kitamura. Taiga ran as fast as she could, leaping into Minori's arms.
"Minorin!" Taiga said happily as she hugged the taller girl. Minori smiled, patting the smaller girl's head.
"Hello, Taiga." She said. She looked up to see Ryuji and Kitamura already talking. "Hey, Takasu-kun." Ryuji looked at her, blushing slightly and nodding.
"Good morning, Kushieda …" He said, trying his best to stay calm. He noticed Kitamura beginning to snicker at the sight. "Shut up, Kitamura." Ryuji said, smirking. Kitamura knew of Ryuji's crush on Minori, and found it funny whenever Ryuji got tongue-tied around the girl.
"I have no idea what you're talking about, Takasu." He said, whistling innocently. Ryuji punched his arm, both boys laughing.
"Good morning, everyone." Ami appeared out of nowhere, smiling at everyone. She looked around, blinking. "Oh, has Aisaka left us today? I don't see her …" She smirked.
"You stupid Chihuahua!" Taiga yelled, kicking Ami hard in the leg, knocking her over. Kitamura grabbed Taiga's arm, smiling down at her.
"Calm down, Aisaka … You know she's playing." He said. Taiga blushed, slowly nodding. "Are you alright, Ami?" He asked as he saw the blue-haired girl stand. Ami nodded, dusting herself off.
"I'm fine. That kick came out of nowhere, I wonder who did it …" She said, rolling her eyes and smirking again, knowing that it pissed off Taiga.
"Come on, Kawashima. Knock it off." Ryuji said, looking at her. Ami nodded, looking away from him.
"Fine. Let's just go." She said. Everyone else nodded as the group began to walk.
The morning came and went. No major arguments, which was very rare. When Lunch came, the five all gathered around desks pushed together in the classroom. Ryuji handed out the lunches he had made for them all, smiling as they seemed to enjoy his cooking.
"Amazing as always, Takasu-kun!" Minori said, causing Ryuji to blush.
"T-Thanks, Kushieda …" He stammered, trying to focus on his own food. Taiga bumped his elbow with her own, causing Ryuji to look down at her. Taiga gave a nod, looking up at him. Ryuji nodded as well, standing up and stretching. The two had yet another plan to help Taiga get some private time with Kitamura. "Well, I'm going to go buy a drink … Kawashima, will you come with me? You too, Kushieda?" Ryuji asked, both girls looking confused but following.
"Ami's getting on your nerves again, huh Aisaka?" Kitamura asked as the two were alone. Taiga was completely red as she slowly nodded.
"Yeah … I mean, no … She's alright, I guess …" Taiga said, looking away. "Anyway, Kitamura-kun, I wanted to tell you something again …"
"Hm? What is it?" Kitamura asked, looking at her. Taiga took a deep breath, turning to him.
"I love Kitamura-kun …" She said, looking away again. Kitamura smiled, patting her head.
"I know you do, Aisaka. We're really good friends, I appreciate that." He said, turning back to his lunch. Taiga felt defeated as she was misunderstood yet again.
Every time she got the courage to confess, Kitamura always thought she was just being nice, or trying to keep her mind off of Ryuji. No matter how many times both she and Ryuji told everyone that nothing was going on, the pair were never given a break.
"No, I … I do love Kitamura-kun, I …" Taiga started, but paused as Ryuji, Minori and Ami returned. Ryuji looked at Taiga, silently asking how things went. Taiga's eyes began to tear up, giving Ryuji his answer. Ryuji sighed, shaking his head.
"Failure …" He mumbled.
After school ended and the group all separated to their homes, Ryuji and Taiga entered Ryuji's house, placing their bags on the floor. They were alone as usual, since Ryuji's mother was out with a client for the night.
"Hey dog, go start dinner." Taiga said, laying on Ryuji's futon, giving a deep sigh. Ryuji nodded, leaving the room.
"What do you want?" He asked as he grabbed a knife, ready to begin chopping or peeling. Taiga shook her head.
"I don't care, just something edible." She said, not moving. Ryuji sighed, grabbing various things and starting to prepare food. This is what happens every time Kitamura misunderstands Taiga - She sulks for the rest of the night. Ryuji hated to see her so upset, but at the same time he wondered why his best friend couldn't understand that Taiga loved him so much. Was Kitamura really that clueless?
"Taiga, you're just not saying it properly … You need to think of some way that he'll really listen to you." Ryuji said as he chopped onions. Taiga sat up, looking at him through the doorway.
"Oh yeah? What would a stupid dog suggest? I'm not barking." She said. Ryuji turned, the knife still in his head.
"I don't know … Think up something you would never try, and try that." He said, turning back around. Taiga shook her head, leaning against the wall.
"Maybe my dream isn't so bad …" She mumbled, Ryuji not hearing. For the past few nights, she had been having a dream about herself and Ryuji at school, holding hands when they walked, feeding each other at lunch, and enjoying life together. Everyone always tells them they look good together … Could this be something she needs to consider?
No, can't be. Ryuji's just a friend and a dog. Kitamura-kun was the only man that Taiga wanted in her life.
… Right?
---
I wrote this after watching Episode 11, I had no idea of the pairings that would follow afterwards, so please excuse this.