Oh look. I posted something new instead of writing up a new chapter.

Oops.

For the fourth time, they were in this situation again. They claimed it wouldn't happen again after the first time, apologized profusely after the second time, then quarreled the third time it happened, Akane storming out of his house, perturbed and confounded by her emotions. Nekomaru was disorganized too, unable to understand why he wished he didn't have to watch her leave in such an infuriated state, but he forced himself to stay away from her for a few days, hoping the distance between them would lessen the resentment.

They were friends, that was the relationship that existed between them.

…Right?

That's what they told themselves and their colleagues each time they probed if there was something that wasn't being displayed between them. No, they would constantly insist, we're sparring partners, he's my coach, she's the athlete I'm helping succeed, we're just… friends. That was it. Nothing more, nothing less.

So why was it, when she challenged him to a spar, he found himself beginning to admire the way her body swayed with every strike she offered? Why was it, when he extended his hand to her after she finally admitted defeat, she found herself holding his hand a little longer than usual to appreciate the tenderness he presented to her after a good battle? And what happened to the barrier of "friendship" between them when he was fighting her one cool night and he suddenly grabbed her by the hips after she landed a blow on his shoulder, pinning her to the closest wall where they kissed until they were completely breathless? Then, once they had a chance to look each other in the eye, one of them would realize what they were doing, and pull away with wide apprehensive eyes.

It ended that way three times now. They were frustrated with each other, and their friends didn't make the situation any better with their curiosities. Normally they always hung out together, but they were distant from each other for three days now, unable to even look at each other. Eventually, Sonia commanded her to talk to him, the princess too attentive of the tension that grew out of nowhere between them. Akane only groaned, but agreed to visit him mostly to get the princess off her back. Gundham called him pathetic, deserving of punishment by the oblivion lord of allegiance, and that alone made him feel oddly ashamed of himself for avoiding her. Nekomaru wondered if he should invite her over for some of his rice balls so they could try to meet in the middle.

But here they were again, the fourth time they were locked against each other.

They had decided to go on a walk together through the park at night after feasting on the rice balls in silence, when the park should have been empty, and they tried to talk about what was happening between them. It was awkward and inconsistent; they were both depraved at these types of conversations. Their words were filled with stutters and fillers of "um" and "well", nothing reaching the resolution they secretly longed for.

Akane eventually became annoyed by their disastrous attempts and challenged him to a scuffle again. Nekomaru had been reluctant at first, but he knew it was the only way they could fully understand each other without petty words. He accepted, willing to try anything if it meant saving their relationship. Neither one held back, too desperate to hide what they couldn't comprehend behind powerful attacks. She hit hard, fists slamming into his palms, knees pounding into his thigh, and he retaliated with everything he had, knocking her down multiple times. They tore clumps of grass out of the ground, stained their clothes with blood and dirt, until they ended in a stare down, Akane collapsing to the ground with fatigue once her legs could no longer keep her up. Nekomaru's body ached; she had come at him with everything she had, and if she didn't collapse when she did, he was certain that he might have lost the battle for the first time.

As he instinctively did after letting himself catch his breath, he held his hand out to her, and she took it with heavy pants, allowing him to hoist her back up, then wobbling on unstable legs. He noticed how damaged she was, the way her body swayed when she stood in place was troubling. She nearly fainted again, Nekomaru catching her when she leaned too far over. The ultimate manger held onto her arm as support, eyeing her down with mild trepidation. Maybe he hit her too hard this time, but she never complained about it, even when she was knocked unconscious occasionally. She exhaled weakly, her fingers grabbing onto his hand for foundation. His heart pounded against his ribs, his skin burning wherever she touched him. He felt like he was on fire…

Not again…

They stood in awkward silence, mainly waiting for Akane to regain her sense of balance before probably returning home. There weren't any sounds beyond the chirping crickets, and Akane's calming breaths. Nekomaru grimaced, a sensation of defeat washing over him the longer he anticipated her voice, too nervous to speak up himself. What was he supposed to say to her? Gundham didn't give him any useful advice regarding that! His heart ached.

Their friendship just couldn't be fixed, could it?

"Coach…" She spoke up tiredly, wiping at the sweat on her forehead and leaning into him further for extra support. "It didn't work."

He regarded her with bewilderment, but was relieved to finally hear her voice again, "What do you mean, 'it didn't work'?"

A few seconds passed, her eyes lifting to view him somberly, filled with an emotion he didn't normally see within her.

Fear.

Why was she afraid? Akane Owari was never afraid of anything.

His hold on her tensed up as he viewed a droplet of blood running down her forehead. He needed to bandage her up after that spar, but she looked like she had something else to say, keeping him stationary. So, he waited with baited breath, watching the blood seep down her cheek, viewing her lips and they remained parted from her deep breaths, feeling the warmth emanate from her body. The moon illuminated her bronzed skin, casting a mesmerizing spell over her that Nekomaru couldn't escape even if he wanted to. All he could do was wait, tortured by the thoughts that entered his mind of each past encounter they recently had.

"Akane…?" He found it hard to speak, his throat constricted, mouth dry.

Her body was quivering, and he jolted when he felt her hand move away from his and run up his chest slowly.

"I… I still want you." She whispered softly. "Nekomaru, I still…" Her eyes evaded his, sinking away with shame though his was frozen on her. He was certain his heart had stopped. "I thought I could get rid of it this time. Whatever this… feeling is, I thought I could annihilate it by facing you again, but instead, I… I'm so pathetic. I can only think about those times when we…"

She drifted off, uncertain of what to say anymore. The one thing she desired the most in that moment, was a chance to run away and never look back. If her legs weren't still violently vibrating, she would have bolted out of there the second she could. It wasn't like her weakness was going to stop her from trying anyway, it just depended on if Nekomaru would let her go. She shouted a frantic apology, pulling back in an attempt to break free. However, Nekomaru's hold on her intensified even further, preventing her escape. Her body snapped back to him, terror in her eyes as she her legs almost gave out again. She nearly roared at him to let her go, nearly cursed him for everything that was happening, but…

She didn't.

She… couldn't.

Not again… Not again… We can't do this again…!

"Akane."

She couldn't look at him no matter how much she wanted to, but her eyes viewed the hand on her arm. Was… he shaking too?

"I guess… I'm pathetic too…" Nekomaru softly admitted.

Her body stiffened, and whatever willpower Nekomaru had in him swiftly shattered into thousands of pieces as he moved his hand to her cheek, stooping down to catch her lips with his own the moment he pulled her head up to look him in the eyes. She didn't exactly reciprocate it at first, having been caught off guard by him and uncertain how to respond at that moment. Yet, her body beseeched to her to give in, legs melting beneath her along with any resolve to deny her feelings any longer. Nekomaru kept her from falling by pressing his other hand into her back, deepening their shameless lip locked dance of desire.

This was the fourth time they had sparred where it ended in their bodies pressed against each other with an intense need for the other. But this time, when Nekomaru pulled back to regain his breath and gaze into her eyes, he felt at peace. There wasn't a moment of regret in his heart, nor one of disgrace that would make him escape with nerves. Akane appeared to feel the same, snaking her arms around his neck before tugging him back down to continue kissing him. She wasn't going to let him apologize anymore, and he wasn't going to let her run away full of anger and resentment.

Not this time.

They fumbled around, desperate to feel each other again. Nekomaru lifted her by her thighs, wrapping her legs around his waist so she didn't have to rely on her fatigued limbs anymore. Her skin was soft against his calloused fingers, a feeling he craved more and more the longer her touched her. His thumb rubbed over a dark blotchy bruise on her thigh, wincing when she squeaked in discomfort.

It reminded him that she was still hurt and needed to be cared for, though all he wanted to do was continue kissing her under the stars.

"S-sorry…" He stuttered, breath fanning over her swelling lips. "We should… take care of your injuries, Akane."

"Oh," She sounded disappointed. "Do we… have to?"

"Well, while I'm sure I could stay like this forever, I don't want to hurt you anytime I touch you somewhere tender." Nekomaru confessed, hands unconsciously continuing to rub at her bronzed skin.

Akane leaned her forehead into his broad shoulder, not before he missed the flare of scarlet rose begin to burn on her cheeks, "Then… can we continue this at your place after you patch me up?"

It was his turn to blush, "I-if that's what you want."

"I do want to… b-because…" Her fingers clawed into his shirt, and he could feel her heart beat quicken in pace, pulsing throughout her slender frame. "M-my body feels so warm. Y-you have to take responsibility for this…"

Nekomaru carried her away, continuing to hold her like a parent carries a sleeping child against them as he whispered into her ear, "As you wish."